Germany’s opposition parties have poured scorn on the compromise brokered between Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy on a new Greek bailout package, which calls for the private sector to contribute voluntarily.
“The idea of a voluntary contribution from the banks is ridiculous,” said Carsten Schneider, financial spokesman for the Social Democratic Party, before adding that the decline of Gemany’s influence in Europe was both breathtaking and frightening.