European Central Bank leaves rate at 1 percent, to face questions on Greek deficit crisis

ECB keeps interest rate unchanged at 1 percent

FRANKFURT — The European Central Bank has left its benchmark interest unchanged at 1 percent but its president, Jean-Claude Trichet, will face questions anew about Greece’s deficit crisis.

The central bank to the 16 countries that use the euro has kept its benchmark rate unchanged since May 2009 in part to boost patchy growth.

Trichet, who will explain the decision later Thursday, has taken a tough stance that Greece must solve its own problems, but market fears about Greece and other indebted eurozone governments in Spain and Portugal have only grown in recent days.