FRANKFURT (MNI) – The head of the parliamentary group of Germany’s
largest opposition party, the Social Democrats (SPD), has accused the
government of delaying the legislative approval process required before
Germany can provide aid to Greece.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier told Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine
Zeitung that the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel is stalling for
political reasons until after key regional elections to be held in two
weeks.

“The financial markets and the German public need clarity,” said
Steinmeier, who was foreign minister and vice chancellor in Merkel’s
previous “grand coalition.” But the government is taking its time, he
complained.

“The government wants to flog its law on help to Greece through the
parliament at the earliest after the election in [the western German
state of] North Rhine-Westphalia,” Steinmeier was quoted as saying in
pre-release issued by the paper.

The elections in Germany’s most populous state takes place May 9.

According to the paper, Steinmeier is demanding that Merkel get the
ball rolling on the law immediately, even this week.

That would allow the parliament enough time to consider the bill,
Steinmeier said.

“The relevant information for the legislative procedure has been
available since March 25,” Steinmeier noted. The SPD is ready to help on
a reasonable solution, the paper cited him as saying.

The party would, however, will not go along with an irresponsible
and hasty response, Steinemeier said.

Earlier in the day, the SPD called for swift parliamentary
hearings on possible financial aid for Greece, arguing that an
activation of the aid measures by Greece is expected by mid-May.

Chancellor Merkel’s center-right CDU/CSU-FDP coalition government
is dependent on the opposition parties if it wants to get an aid bill
quickly through parliament.

“The SPD parliamentary group demands an extensive [parliamentary]
hearing on the loans for Greece in the coming weeks,” Axel Schaefer, the
SPD’s parliamentary speaker for European affairs, said in a statement.
The aid proposals for Greece are legally and politically disputed, the
lawmaker said.

“Speed is of the essence because an application by Greece for aid
via loans is expected for mid-May,” Schaefer stressed. All open
questions need to be answered by the government by then, he demanded.

–Frankfurt bureau; +49-69-720142; frankfurt@marketnews.com

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