Greece against possible suspension of EU voting rights

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Friday spoke out strongly against Germany’s idea of sanctions against serial budget sinners, saying it would trigger a referendum in the country. ‘I have told (German Chancellor) Angela Merkel and other EU politicians that if this is the case then I have to ask the Greek people to decide on this in a referendum,’ he told parliament. The European Union will determine early next year whether it will extend the amount of time Greece has to repay a 110 billion euros (144 billion dollars) bailout that saved the country from default. Under the terms of the agreement Greece will need to begin repaying loans in 2013.