German parliament approves Greek aid
Posted May 7, 2010 8:46 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The German parliament’s upper house has approved Germany’s share of the rescue package for Greece.
The upper house represents Germany’s 16 states. None of the state officials at Friday’s session raised objections to the package and that means it has passed.
It needs only President Horst Koehler’s signature, normally a formality.
Koehler can withhold his signature on constitutional grounds but almost never does.
Earlier in the day, the lower house of parliament voted 390-72 with 139 abstentions to authorize Germany’s participation.
Chancellor Angela Merkel says the move is necessary to support Europe’s monetary union — despite the unpopularity of the Greek bailout in Germany.
