Germans will pay high price for delaying tactics

The German government is demanding that tough conditions be set for providing EU aid to Greece. But these are just delaying tactics on the part of German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of the North Rhine-Westphalia state election to be held on May 9, writes the left-liberal daily La Repubblica: "The bailout has become a race against time. It's a question of days, not months. With the current trend in prices the costs for the manoeuvre have already almost doubled. But Germany wants to wait for the state election in North Rhine-Westphalia. No doubt Merkel is having trouble persuading her fellow citizens to provide help for a country that systematically cooked its books. But the very same citizens wouldn't be at all pleased if in the end they are presented with a bill that is even higher than if action is taken now. Are they well enough informed about the risks? Doubts about this are justified."

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