IMF Demand for Greek Debt Haircut Means Political Headache for Merkel

``The IMF believes that the only way Greece can reduce its sovereign debt to the target level of 120 percent of gross domestic product in the next decade is by way of another partial default. This time, however, it wouldn't just be private creditors who would lose out as they did in the debt haircut carried out this spring. A second such cut of Greek debt would force international creditors, Germany included, to write down a portion of the billions they have loaned Athens. A 50 percent default would result in Germany losing €17.5 billion of the €35 billion it has loaned Athens thus far.''