Over 70% Germans Expect Greece to Go Bankrupt - Poll

More than 70 percent of a poll respondents expressed a certainty in Greece's inevitable bankruptcy and the country's inability to overcome the crisis.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — More than 70 percent of Germans answering a questionnaire think Greece will soon declare bankruptcy due to its immense debt, according to a survey by the ZDF channel released on Friday.

On July 13, the Eurozone leaders agreed to provide a third bailout plan for Greece, providing up to $95 billion to the country over the next three years in exchange for strict economic austerity measures and painful social reforms.

Despite the deal, 71 percent of poll respondents expressed a certainty in Athens’ inevitable bankruptcy, stating Greece will not recover from the crisis.

On Friday, Greece will hold preliminary talks on additional financial aid with its international lenders, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).

According to the survey, German citizens polled are skeptical about the upcoming talks. Only 27 percent said Athens would be able to fully implement proposed reforms which include pension cuts and VAT increase.

The findings also revealed that 45 percent of the respondents want Greece to remain a member of the Eurozone.

Greece has amassed a debt-to-GDP ratio of nearly 170 percent, most of which it owes to the Eurogroup nations, the IMF and the ECB. Negotiations with creditors over the third bailout package are expected to finish by August 18, according to Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos.