German Parliament overwhelmingly approves 3rd bailout package for Greece

Aug. 18, 2015: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, smiles as parliamentary faction leader Volker Kauder opens a meeting of the Christian Democratic Party's parliamentary faction on the eve of Wednesday's vote on another bailout package for Greece, in the German Bundestag in Berlin. (AP)

BERLIN – Germany's Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a third bailout package for Greece despite misgivings by some conservative lawmakers of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic party.

Lawmakers voted 454-113 in favor of the deal on Wednesday, with 18 abstentions.

A breakdown of the vote by party wasn't immediately available but the result seemed to dispel widespread speculation that Merkel would face a rise in dissenters within her conservative bloc.

Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble urged lawmakers ahead of the vote to back Greece's third bailout in five years in light of a marked change in the Greek government's approach.

Germany is the largest single contributor to the bailouts. The vote for the bailout package was also supported by Merkel's coalition partner, the Social Democrats, and the opposition Greens.