German lawmaker: nobody seeking Greek bankruptcy

BERLINw — A top lawmaker from German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s junior coalition partner is defending comments by his party’s leader that an “orderly insolvency” for Greece should be considered in the future if Athens cannot get its finances in order.

The comments by Free Democrats leader Philipp Roesler roiled markets earlier this week. They prompted Merkel to say she saw no quick solutions to Greece’s problems and caution that “everyone should very carefully weigh their words.”

FDP General Secretary Christian Lindner weighed in Wednesday, saying on Bayerischen Rundfunk radio that if Greece couldn’t meet conditions for more EU funds, “we must have the appropriate tools to deal with such situations.”

But he added “nobody is seeking a bankruptcy and nobody is looking for the Greeks to leave the monetary union.”