German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for forward momentum in ongoing discussions on Greece on Sunday, demanding that discussions about a possible Greek departure from the eurozone end immediately, according to dpa. A "Grexit" option had indeed been on the table, Merkel said in an interview with state broadcaster ARD, "but we decided to choose another one." The euro member states agreed to move forward with Greece on negotiations over a new aid package, the chancellor said. "That must now be implemented." Ahead of negotiations with Greece in Brussels last week, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble proposed in a leaked position paper that Greece either improve its bailout-associated reform proposals or be left to exit the eurozone for at least five years. Schaeuble's proposals stirred divisions in the Merkel's Christian Democratic party and the coalition, including Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who heads governing coalition partner Social Democrats. Over internal strife and intimated resignations within the coalition, Markel was emphatic: "No one came to me and asked for any kind of resignation. And I have no intention on having this discussion further." Everyone in her coalition as well as her party would be getting on with the business at hand, the chancellor stated, adding: "No one should have any worries about that." On Friday German Chancellor Angela Merkel secured parliamentary backing to launch talks on Greece's third bailout in five years, despite a major rebellion in her government's ranks. While 439 of the 598 members of the Bundestag voting on the talks backed the negotiations for a new, 86-billion-euro (94-billion-dollar) lifeline for Greece, 119 - including 60 lawmakers from Merkel's conservative political bloc - rejected the planned three-year bailout.
