Opel survey

The representative survey indicated that 66 percent of Germans were against giving the General Motors subsidiary more financial support than the 1.5 billion euro ($2.2 billion) transition loan already earmarked to maintain day-to-day operations. Of those questioned, 28 percent said they approved of additional funding.

The German government has signaled it would be prepared to provide financial aid to Opel, if GM paid back the portions of the transition loan it has already used.

German Economics Minister Rainer Bruederle, however, has warned GM that it had no automatic entitlement to the three billion euros in state aid promised for the original deal with Canadian auto parts supplier Magna.

The head of Germany's employer's association, Dieter Hundt, has rejected further aid to Opel, arguing that many small and mid-sized businesses in Germany had been hit just as badly by the economic crisis. Hundt said if any aid is provided it should be done through the already existing "Deutschlandfond", which is open to all struggling businesses.

Meanwhile, Klaus Franz, the head of Opel's works council which represents employees, urged General Motors to appoint a German executive to manage its European operations. GM has hinted that it is looking for a German after the resignation of its European CEO, Carl-Peter Forster, who had been an outspoken supporter of the Magna deal.

General Motors CEO, Fritz Henderson, is expected to begin talks on reshaping Opel at company headquarters in Ruesselsheim this week.


gb/dpa/AFP
Editor: Andreas Illmer