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Public backing for ESM ruling

September 13, 2012

Nearly half of Germans support the ruling that approved the European Stability Mechanism. However, 78 percent doubt that the bailout fund will decisively advance efforts to resolve the nearly three-year euro crisis.

https://p.dw.com/p/167oV
The decision pleases almost half of the population (Photo: Patrick Pleul/dpa)
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

Forty-eight percent of those surveyed for German ZDF public television said they agree with the decision made Wednesday by the Constitutional Court to approve the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) bailout fund, compared to 39 percent who disagree. Thirteen percent expressed no opinion.

However, only 27 percent think the court took Germany's interests adequately into account, with 61 percent believing otherwise and 12 percent expressing no opinion.

Just 16 percent believe the ESM bailout fund is the key to resolving the crisis, the poll found.

The Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe rejected as many as 37,000 objections to Germany's contribution to the long-anticipated 500-billion-euro ($620 billion) ESM and separate budget pact in a landmark ruling that paves the way for President Joachim Gauck to sign the legislation. The ESM had been overwhelmingly approved by parliament.

The court also insisted that Germany's liability to the ESM be capped at 190 billion euros and that a further parliamentary vote would be required for any increase.

The poll of 1,013 people was carried out by telephone Wednesday.

mkg/tj (AFP, dapd, Reuters)