Senior politicians in German Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right coalition have started talking openly about a Greek default, reflecting mounting concern in Europe's biggest economy about the debt crisis and pressuring Greece, Reuters reported. "To stabilise the euro, there can no longer be any taboos," Philipp Roesler, economy minister and leader of Merkel's junior coalition partner, the Free Democrats (FDP), told Die Welt. "That includes, if necessary, an orderly bankruptcy of Greece, if the required instruments are available," he said. Roesler, also Vice Chancellor, said sanctions should be imposed on states failing to tackle big deficits, including the possible withdrawal of EU voting rights. FDP general secretary Christian Lindner went further, telling the Berliner Morgenpost his party had not ruled out the possibility of Greece leaving the euro zone. Even senior figures in Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) are leaving open the possibility of default. "The way things are looking, you can no longer rule out a possible Greek restructuring," CDU budget expert Norbert Barthle told Reuters when asked about a default or euro zone exit. Germany has repeatedly said Greece must meet conditions set by the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund to get the next tranche of aid. -- SPA
