Germans: we’re better off without euro

The majority of Germans think their country would be better off without the euro, a poll suggested yesterday, as the economy minister reiterated doubts over whether Greece can stay in the single currency. The Emnid poll for the Bild am Sonntag mass circulation weekly showed 51 percent of Germans believed Europe's top economy would be better outside the 17-country euro zone. Twenty-nine percent said it would be worse off. The survey also showed that 71 percent of Germans wanted Greece to leave the euro if it did not live up to its austerity promises. Economy Minister Philipp Roesler told Bild am Sonntag there were "considerable doubts whether Greece is living up to its reform promises." "The implementation (of the reforms) is faltering. There is still no functioning tax office. Also, almost nothing has happened in terms of the promised privatization of public assets," Roesler told the paper. He added: "If Greece does not fulfill its obligations, there can be no more money. Then Greece would be insolvent." Roesler and his party — junior partners in Germany's ruling coalition — have frequently expressed doubts about whether Greece is prepared to follow through with the painful reforms necessary to stay in the single currency club. From: Arabnews