Greek PM in Germany: need ‘time to breathe’

BERLIN — Greece’s prime minister is telling Germany that his country needs “time to breathe” as it carries through painful reforms and spending cuts.

Chancellor Angela Merkel didn’t immediately respond to Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ call for more time to implement reforms when the two leaders met Friday.

But Merkel stressed that Germany wants Greece to remain in the 17-nation euro and said Berlin won’t pass premature judgment on Athens’ reform efforts ahead of a report next month from Greece’s international debt inspectors.

Leading German politicians have voiced deep skepticism about granting Greece significant concessions as it implements unpopular reforms and cuts.