Three months before an election, some lawmakers from the Social Democrats (SPD), the junior partner in Merkel‘s coalition, had wanted a full parliamentary debate on the 8.5 billion euro (7.49 billion pounds) loan to Greece. Internal opposition could make a debate embarrassing for Merkel.

However, approval from the whole assembly is not needed, said Michael Grosse-Broemer, head of the conservatives in parliament, adding that the parliamentary budget committee could deal with it.