Greek parliament approves reform measures after emotional debate – Het Nieuwsblad

The Greek parliament on Wednesday night gave the green light to the reform proposals of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras after a long, turbulent and emotional debate.

         

The reform proposals are part of the agreement Tsipras last weekend concluded with the European creditors. The approval by the Greek Parliament of the draft laws imposed by Europe is a precondition of international creditors to start negotiations with Greece over a third European aid package of 85 billion euros. The finance ministers of the euro countries are there on Thursday morning at 10 o’clock all telephone consultations to further assess the situation.

229 to 64

Around 1h40 Greek time ( 0u40 Belgian time ) started the vote after a lengthy debate that lasted all night. And that mood, which actually should have begun at midnight, so turned positive for the bills.

229 MPs voted in the agreement, 64 MPs voted against. 6 parle human members abstained (and one MP was absent).

Dissension within Syriza

During the debate on the savings and reform package was Tsipras fierce headwinds from its own ranks. Inside Syriza was great division on the ballot. Some of the supporters of Tsipras followed the prime minister and not voted against, including another former finance minister and parliament speaker Yanis Varoufakis Zoi Konstantopoulou. Eventually refused 38 (out of 162) of SYRIZA MPs to vote for the proposals.

Even the right-wing populist Independent Greeks voted against the reform plans, like the extreme right Golden Days Council Party and the Communist Party.

The main opposition party, New Democracy, PASOK and To Potami , voted for the plan, though they also criticized Tsipras. So did PASOK party leader Fofi Gennimata example criticized the fact that Tsipras was not present in parliament. Also with other parties about were dissatisfied.

Unfair fight

At the end of the debate, just before the expiry of the deadline, Tsipras finally came in parliament. He spoke to the MPs so far. The battle he fought, he calls unfair. “But one day, Greece will benefit from the agreement,” Tsipras said in an emotional speech. “I do not work a lot of the measures to be taken. But it was a choice between this deal and a disorderly bankruptcy. I will not make this agreement better than it is and sell it as a success story. “

Tsipras received a standing ovation from a large part of his own party. Before the start of the debate in parliament Tsipras had itself indicated that his position is untenable, and it is difficult for him to govern if he does not get the support of his own MPs.

consequences of voting against its worse “

During the debate on the savings could include Minister of Economic Affairs George Stathakis called to vote for the agreement. “The plan will Greek banks have stable,” he said. “The consequences of a vote against are worse.”

Riots in Athens

In the streets of the Greek capital Athens was Wednesday night in the run-up to voting already argued against the reform measures. During the demonstration it came to clashes between some demonstrators and the police.