Merkel sees Germany facing most difficult times in decades

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday Europe's largest economy faced the most difficult economic situation in decades.

"Germany is facing the most difficult economic times in decades," Merkel told the Bundestag lower house of parliament.

Merkel was defending a 50-billion euro economic stimulus package, which her ruling coalition decided on Monday.

(Reporting by Noah Barkin and Kerstin Gehmlich)