Social Democratic Party (SPD) chancellor candidate Martin Schulz has warned against fresh speculation of a Greek exit from the euro area saying it is putting European unity at stake.
“Anyone flirting with the idea of Grexit risks breaking Europe apart,” the former president of the European Parliament told Die Welt on Monday.
“This may be in the interest of [US President] Donald Trump or [French National Front chief] Marine Le Pen, but it is certainly not in the interest of Germany and Europe,” he said.
“It is extremely dangerous,” he added.
It is however predominantly German politicians who have brought the issue of Grexit on the political agenda, and Herr Schaeuble is not a lone voice among German politicians who want Greece out of the euro and try to push the country to an exit.
Free Democrats leader Christian Lindner, said last week that the best way forward is for Greece to leave the eurozone, and for Greek debt to be forgiven afterwards.
Alternative for Germany, the rightwing anti-European party, not only wants Greece out of the eurozone, but Germany as well.
Together those two parties will probably account for some 20 to 25 per cent of MPs in the Bundestag. but there are more eurosceptic MPs in Ms Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union who are voicing the same opinion.
