independent

Friday 24 May 2013

Greek lawmakers pass austerity bill

A petrol bomb thrown by protesters explodes near riot police in front of parliament during clashes in Athens (AP)
Riot police officers stand in front of parliament during an anti-austerity demonstration in Athens (AP pics)
Petrol bombs thrown by protesters explode near riot police in front of the parliament during clashes in Athens (AP pics)

Greek lawmakers have narrowly passed a crucial austerity bill by majority vote, but with heavy dissent from within the three-party governing coalition.

Immediately after the vote and before the tally had been officially announced, two of the coalition parties expelled a total of seven dissenting deputies from their ranks.

The third party in the coalition, the small Democratic Left, mostly voted "present" - in essence abstaining from the vote.

The passage of the bill was a big step for the government to secure continued funding from the country's international creditors.

Without the loans, prime minister Antonis Samaras has said Greece will run out of euros on November 16.

Press Association

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