Chancellor Angela Merkel said in an interview to be published on Sunday she would welcome a contribution from Germany’s private sector to support a Greek rescue package.
“I would very much welcome the voluntary participation from banks,” Merkel said, according to advance excerpts of the interview to appear on Sunday in Bild am Sonntag.
Deutsche Bank Chief Executive Josef Ackermann is helping coordinate German private sector efforts to support the rescue package, a senior banking source told Reuters on Friday.
The move wold make it easier for political leaders to sell a bailout to the German public ahead of a key state election.
The consortium has already pledged to contribute 1-2 billion euros ($1.3-2.6 billion) toward the effort, although no formal agreement has been struck, the source said, declining to give details on how the plan would work.
Ackermann, one of Germany’s top executives and chairman of the Institute of International Finance bank lobby, got involved in helping to assemble the consortium after a conversation with German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, the person said.
Deutsche Bank declined to comment on the plan, which would mark the first sign of private-sector involvement in the Greek rescue.
German Vice Chancellor Guido Westerwelle said on Friday he expected banks in Europe wanted to and would contribute to an aid package for Greece.
