Merkel says she's open to "stimulus" for Greek economy ATHENS - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to "stimulus" that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed onto a $165 billion bailout this year. In Athens, warring political factions failed Tuesday to forge a new government, triggering fresh elections and heightening chances that this rudderless Mediterranean nation could be forced to abandon the euro. I have the will, the determination to keep Greece in the euro zone. It would be good for all of us," Merkel said in an interview with CNBC. If Greece believes that there is certain stimulus for growth to be pursued in the euro zone, we're open to this. Greece's May 6 elections pummeled political parties that approved the rescue deal, and after 10 days of wrangling, leaders have failed to forge a unity government. Instead, a nation in danger of running out of cash to operate the government - and where fearful residents in recent days have been rapidly withdrawing more of their savings from Greek banks - faces uncertain new elections next month. "The Greek people ... have declared the bailout null and void," Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras said after the collapse of talks Tuesday. Merkel and European finance ministers, whose taxpayers have largely funded the Greek bailout, were quick to push back. Given the potential shock waves if Greece is forced to leave the euro zone - the fallout could send borrowing costs to unsustainable levels - there have been suggestions in recent days that European officials might show more lenience with Athens. Many Greek politicians now appear to believe that Europe is ready to reopen the bailout's terms for wholesale renegotiation. He added, though, that unspecified bilateral deals might be reached with Athens, such as having the European Union invest in infrastructure projects in Greece to help the country's economy. German policymakers say they would be willing to do more to help ease Greece's short-term economic pain, so long as they were convinced that Greece was serious about implementing the terms of its bailout agreement. Leaders including Merkel have said that they still believe that opening the Greek labor market, reducing government spending and privatizing state-owned industries remains the best path to getting the country's economy back on track. But those measures exacerbate short-term pain, and have caused rebellion among Greek voters, who will return to the ballot box June 17.