Germans pressure Merkel to say 'no' to Greece

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is being pressured to help Greece, but it would cost her country billions.

All eyes are on Germany as European leaders gather to decide on Greece's future this weekend.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble wield the most power in granting Greece a third bailout package that is expected to be worth tens of billions of euros. These two politicians manage the biggest economy in Europe and their country has already given Greece the most loans of any European nation, totaling roughly 56 billion euros ($62 billion). That works out to about 700 euros ($780) per German citizen.

But even if they decide to trust the Greeks with more rescue loans, it does not mean the German public will, nor does it guarantee that German money will follow.

Any decisions will have to be approved by the German parliament, the Bundestag. Parliamentary members could crush any new hopes of a deal for Greece. Without parliamentary approval, Merkel's hands are tied.