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Greece debt crisis: MPs back bailout reform plan | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Greece's parliament has backed a government package of economic reforms aimed at ending the country's debt crisis and securing a new bailout. | Greece's parliament has backed a government package of economic reforms aimed at ending the country's debt crisis and securing a new bailout. |
After a late-night debate, PM Alexis Tsipras won overwhelming cross-party support but saw some of his own MPs vote against him or abstain. | |
Earlier, he admitted that some elements of the package fell short of his party's anti-austerity promises. | |
The proposals are to be studied by eurozone finance ministers later. | The proposals are to be studied by eurozone finance ministers later. |
EU sources says Greece's creditors - the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - believe the plan is positive. | EU sources says Greece's creditors - the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - believe the plan is positive. |
Eurozone officials are also expected to discuss Greek requests for some of the debt to be rescheduled. | Eurozone officials are also expected to discuss Greek requests for some of the debt to be rescheduled. |
In total, 251 MPs voted "Yes", 32 voted "No" and eight called "Present" - effectively abstaining. Nine deputies were absent. | |
Among the members of Mr Tsipras's own Syriza party who abstained were Parliament Speaker Zoe Constantopoulou and Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis. | |
Mr Tsipras is asking for €53.5bn ($59.47bn) to cover Greece's debts until 2018. | Mr Tsipras is asking for €53.5bn ($59.47bn) to cover Greece's debts until 2018. |
In return, he has given in to demands for a pension overhaul, tax rises and privatisations - measures rejected in a referendum last Sunday. | In return, he has given in to demands for a pension overhaul, tax rises and privatisations - measures rejected in a referendum last Sunday. |
Greek banks are days away from running out of money and unless a deal is struck the country faces exiting the euro. | Greek banks are days away from running out of money and unless a deal is struck the country faces exiting the euro. |
The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says the Greek reform package is a major climbdown for the prime minister, whose radical left-wing Syriza party was elected on a strong anti-austerity platform. | The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says the Greek reform package is a major climbdown for the prime minister, whose radical left-wing Syriza party was elected on a strong anti-austerity platform. |
In his address to MPs, Mr Tsipras admitted that his government had made mistakes but he said the new proposals offered the best possible deal for Greece. | |
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He described the lengthy negotiations with the creditors as "a battle". | |
"Now I have the feeling we've reached the demarcation line. From here on there is a minefield." | |
Mr Tsipras said the bailout deal "entails many proposals that are far from our pledges" but he added it was "marginally better" than the proposals put forward last month by creditors. | |
He said there was a "national duty to keep our people alive and in the eurozone". | |
The Eurogroup - eurozone finance ministers - is due to discuss the reforms at 1300 GMT and a meeting of eurozone heads of government is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. | |
That will be followed by a full EU summit two hours later. | |
The measures submitted in the new Greek document include: |