153 lawmakers in Greece have narrowly backed a fresh round of austerity measures aimed at securing the next round of bailout funds despite violent protests across the country.
The bill which includes tax rises and pension cuts is about 13.5 billion Euros and must be revised before Eurozone finance ministers meet next week to approve 31.5bn euros in fresh loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
Before the vote on Wednesday, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras warned that without the bailout Greece would run out of money this month and face “catastrophe”.
The austerity package – Greece’s fourth in three years – is meant to close the nation’s budget deficit, lower its huge debt burden and make its economy more competitive.
MPs must now pass a revised budget on Sunday before Eurozone finance ministers meet next week to approve 31.5bn Euros in fresh loans from the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Greece needs to avoid imminent bankruptcy.
But the level of resistance on the streets is a reminder that implementing the latest tough measures will be extraordinarily difficult.
The bill was passed by the House of Representatives and by the Senate.
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It described the project as part of a robust landfill management programme of the state.
