Across spectrum, German leaders condemn Greece's rejection of EU deal

reuters.com ^ | Jun 29, 2015 | reuters

[Berlin_Freeper]

German leaders right and left unleashed a barrage of criticism at Greece Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Sunday for rejecting an offer that could have unlocked rescue funds to resolve the debt crisis.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's allies and the leaders of her centre-left coalition partners condemned Greece's leftist government, reflecting pent-up public frustration.

Germany is the biggest European contributor to the bailout programmes that have kept Greece afloat for the past five years. Opinion polls now show a majority of Germans want Greece to leave the euro zone.

[clintonh8r]

Let Greece crash and burn. This charade is more about Eurozone face-saving than Greece’s future. The Eurozone was doomed from the start. It was always just a matter of time, a time which has arrived.

[Mariner]

Something tells me the Greeks don't care what the Germans think anymore.

And, I believe, they are determined to repudiate their debt and start over.

Just like we will someday do.

Sometimes the debt is just tooooo big to pay.

[Berlin_Freeper]

German politicians have reacted with shock and anger to Greece's rejection of an offer from its creditors that could have unlocked much-needed bailout funds. Athens could go bankrupt within a matter of days.

[samtheman]

What’s your personal take on this? Are the Greeks as stupid as they seem or is something else going on? (I just figure you know more about it than most Freepers.)

[faithhopecharity]

I don’t know a lot about this, so please excuse a question.
What if Greece simply said it was going back to being an independent country ... (started its own drachma currency again, etc.)? ...

[Berlin_Freeper]

The Greeks are asking for more money on their own terms.
Go to your local bank tomorrow morning and see how that works out.

On the line is 15.5 billion euros in aid Brussels refuses to release unless Greece makes further cuts to its pension system,

[Berlin_Freeper]

If Greece went their own way then they couldn’t afford to retire at age 45 anymore. Which is something the EU is trying to deal with them now.

[Berlin_Freeper]

75% of Greek Pensioners Enjoy Early Retirement

[faithhopecharity]

I see.

Well, if they went back to their own currency....they could then try to keep retiring at age 45...and it would either work out, or not....without dragging Germany or other countries (down?) into it.

People (and nations) tend to behave more responsibly when they are paying their own bills...

just thinking...

[Cowboy Bob]

I’m glad I had a chance to visit Greece before it was owned by Germany!

[grania]

It's not stupid to refuse to pay off debts when it's impossible. The elite took the loans and derived all the benefit from them. Now everyone else is supposed to suffer so they can be paid back?

We have the same situation in the US.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Berlin_Freeper.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Personally, I am not opposed to any country leaving the EU.

Good luck to them.

[Billthedrill]

As another FReeper reminded me in another thread:

Deutsche bank is holding over 57 TRILLION dollars in Credit Default Swaps related to Greek Debts.

Ripping that bandaid off is gonna hurt.

[Berlin_Freeper]

If you are getting 57 TRILLION from tcrlaf, let me tell you he is a total Fool.

Greece, which may default on an International Monetary Fund debt repayment due on Tuesday after talks with creditors broke down, owes its official lenders 242.8 billion euros ($271 billion), according to a Reuters calculation based on official data, with Germany by far the largest creditor.

[faithhopecharity]

yes, understood.
all European nations somehow survived for a very very long time without being part of a EU
(Greece especially)

[VanDeKoik]

Different clothes, and bit more chill, but the same Teutonic boot about to come down on Greece again.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Poll: 7 in 10 Greeks Want the Euro at Any Cost

[Berlin_Freeper]

How is the weather in Belgium, VanDeKoik?