It’s up to Germany to end the game of chicken with Greece | Henrik Enderlein
by Henrik Enderlein from on (#3FTJ)
Stubbornness based on pride and prejudice is driving the rift. Reason must kick in before Grexit devastates Europe
At the heart of the rift that runs through Europe at the moment lies a technocratic debate drowned in emotion. Germany has rejected Greece's bailout request on the basis of the semantic difference between a programme extension (acceptable) and a loan extension (unacceptable).
True, words are substance. But when the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schiuble, or his allies take the floor to explain their critical stance, the underlying reasons become evident: they quickly shift to moral and emotional grounds, invoking trust, values and cultural differences.
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