BERLIN — Germany's Parliament overwhelmingly approved the four-month extension of Greece's financial bailout Friday, despite unease over the new government in Athens.
Lawmakers voted 542-32 to back the bailout extension. There were 13 abstentions.
Greece was granted the extension by its European creditors, ensuring it remains solvent and does not run the risk of falling out of the euro, but only in exchange for a commitment to budget reforms. Germany is among the countries that needed to approve the deal in its national parliament.
"This is not about new billions for Greece, not about changing this program," Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble assured Parliament ahead of the vote. "It's about providing additional time to complete this program successfully."
Comments by Greek officials casting doubt on privatization deals and raising the possibility of further debt relief had irked some in Germany in the run-up to the vote.
Read Saturday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.