Merkel keeps the Greeks on tenterhooks

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel today, Friday, in Berlin. The business daily Les Echos shows understanding for Merkel's not wanting to provide immediate aid to crisis-ridden Greece: "The answer is already known. It's 'nein'. Angela Merkel ... does not want to help out Greece. This is a tug of war where both parties must cope with a highly sensitive public, and where doubtless no one's going to be stretching out their hand. On the Greek side the stiff government measures provoked violent reactions yesterday. In Germany the chancellor is facing resolute opposition from its liberal FDP coalition partner and a vindictive press that to a large extent reflects the mood of its readers. In such conditions the most logical thing for the chancellor is not to promise anything but to act in an emergency should Greece encounter difficulties finding lenders."

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