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Euro hits 9-year low on Grexit rumours - business live | Business | The Guardian

The German government has poured more cold water on that Spiegel story that Angela Merkel is ready to see Greece exit the eurozone.

Via the wires:

  • German govt spokesman says there is no change in stance of the German govt towards Greece.
  • German finance ministry spokesman, we expect Greece to stick to its commitments.
  • German govt spokesman says Greece has long-term commitments, a new govt will not change that.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2015 at 08:20:07 AM EST
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Industry minister and SPD boss Gabriel declared that "Greece cannot blackmail us" and should stick to agreements. Nice way to package an actual blackmail.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Mon Jan 5th, 2015 at 02:02:13 PM EST
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He actually seems to have said "no longer". Greece has been so devilishly efficient at blackmailing Germany, er, since when?
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2015 at 02:12:04 PM EST
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Euro hits 9-year low on Grexit rumours | Business | The Guardian

Gabriel told the Hannoverschen Allgemeinen Zeitung that the German government's goal was to see Greece stay in the Eurozone, but that it also expected Athens to fulfill its promises to the EU.

Regardless of who forms the next government, we expect that they stick by the agreements made with the EU. The Eurozone is considerably more stable and robust than it was several years ago, which is why we can no longer be blackmailed.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2015 at 02:16:38 PM EST
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Though that translation into English may be more than he said:

Gabriel erwartet Vertragstreue von Griechen / Deutschland / Welt / Politik / Nachrichten - HAZ - Hannoversche Allgemeine

,,Deshalb sind wir übrigens auch nicht erpressbar,
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2015 at 02:24:33 PM EST
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True dat. This is more along the lines of

"And btw that's alswo why we can't be blackmailed."

The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Tue Jan 6th, 2015 at 08:21:12 AM EST
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When a German throws in "deshalb" as a supposed add-on or afterthought, you know the real point is coming and is probably the tip of the sword.  Sort of, "Oh by the way, the Wehrmacht has just invaded Poland."
by rifek on Wed Jan 28th, 2015 at 12:41:13 PM EST
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