Merkel survives judgement day

Thursday, 29 September 2011 10:54 AM

By Ian Dunt Follow @IanDunt

The most powerful woman in the world has survived a crucial parliamentary votes on the eurozone's financial rescue fund.

The German Bundestag passed the legislation by 523 vote to 85, but Angela Merkel will have been more concerned with how many of her coalition members backed her.

While opposition parties the Social Democrats and the Green party were supportive enough to ensure the law passed, Ms Merkel would have faced a vote of confidence if her own party, the Christian Democrats, and their coalition partners, the Free Democrats, had not supported her.

In the end, 315 coalition votes secured her continued leadership.

If more than 19 coalition MPs had rebelled, her position would be in serious doubt.

Earlier this week, it appeared somewhere between 13 and 16 members of the coalition will reject the motion.

The German public remains implacably opposed to any measure which might see them continue to payout to Greece, with around 75% of the public against Ms Merkel on the issue.

The proposals which need to be ratified by eurozone members, date back from July and would see 20% of the private loans to Greece written off and, crucially, an expansion of the eurozone bailout fund.

Meanwhile, officials from the European commission are reviewing Greece's austerity measures today with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank ahead of plans to release more money to the country.

Having now passed a hugely controversial property law, Greece is likely to receive the funds.
 

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• angela merkel
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• eurozone crisis