MPs Vote For Bailout Terms, Greece Breaks Into Protest
Another chapter in the Greek financial crisis opens as the entire Greece breaks into protest as the MPs vote for the strict bail out terms in order to save the country from exiting the common currency zone. Greek protesters took the streets, hurling petrol bombs towards the police outside the parliament that ensued a grave turmoil and sheer unrest throughout the country.
The late night sitting at the Athens Parliament saw a lot of drama as the controversial bail out treaty was being debated over. As the streets were filled with angry protesters and police, a heated discussion on the passing of the bail out terms, resonated across the walls of Parliament.
Greek Prime Minister Alex Tsipras not only had to face strong public dissent due to his incapacity to stand up to the promise for which he was voted but also from his own party members as well. 32 out of 149 members of the government voted against the deal while 6 abstained from voting, making Mr. Tsipras to rely on the opposition party for passing the resolution. Thus a total 229 MPs out of 300 voted for the deal that led to the countrywide protests.
The smooth passage of the bailout terms in the Athens Parliament with majority of the MPs voting for it means implementation of measures that Greece has never endured before. It indicates that life in Greece is about to face a major change, with limits on spending, pension cuts, alteration in the labour laws and tax hikes.
Before the MPs cast their votes, PM Alex Tsipras urged, "We don't believe in it but we are forced to adopt it." Even though a number of MPs of the left-wing ruling party opposed the decision, the party in majority stood firmly by the Prime Minister. "We support Syriza in government and we support the prime minister. We don't support the bailout," said Mr. Lafazanis after the voting.
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