EUROZONE-GREECE/VOTE-LAWMAKERS REAX Splits remain in Syriza as Greek parliament backs reforms

Record ID: 149426

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/VOTE-LAWMAKERS REAX Splits remain in Syriza as Greek parliament backs reforms
  • Date: 23rd July 2015
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 23, 2015) (REUTERS) + NIGHT SHOTS + EXTERIOR OF GREEK PARLIAMENT NEWS CREWS AT ENTRANCE INTERIOR MINISTER, NIKOS VOUTSIS, LEAVING (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) VICE PRESIDENT OF PARLIAMENT, ALEXIS MITROPOULOS, SAYING: "Today without a doubt the divisions have hardened and the leadership must tackle it, but with care." GOVERNMENT SPOKESWOMAN, OLGA GEROVASILI, SUR
  • Embargoed: 7th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAAMZ6M06A4U0MYEZEM6X8OP09T
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Though the Greek parliament backed a second package of reforms to start talks on a financial rescue deal in the early hours of Thursday (July 23), splits remained in the ruling Syriza party.
    Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faced a slightly smaller rebellion than had been the case in the vote last week on a first set of reforms, but 36 lawmakers from within his own ranks voted against the bill or abstained.
    The legislation easily passed with the backing of 230 votes in the 300-seat chamber, but only thanks to opposition support.
    "Today without a doubt the divisions have hardened and the leadership must tackle it, but with care," Syriza lawmaker Alexis Mitropoulos told journalists waiting outside the parliament after the vote.
    The way is now cleared for the government to negotiate a third Greek bailout worth 86 billion euros, hoping to wrap up negotiations by August 20.
    "From now on the government will focus all its efforts on the negotiations so that a deal can be reached," spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili said.
    Last week, Tsipras was forced to reshuffle rebel ministers out of his cabinet, and high-profile ex-Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis was one of those to lose his job.
    He defied the government once again on Thursday but insisted that his party remained unified in spite of its obvious differences.
    "Syriza is united in diversity. That's how Syriza has always been, that's how it is, and that's how it will continue to be in the future," he said.
    Both the left-wing Pasok and the right-wing New Democracy parties backed the measures at the end of a lengthy and at times fractious debate.
    Pasok lawmaker Evi Christofilopoulou said that the government had been given time to negotiate but that they had to avoid playing party politics to retain support.
    "Without some sort of national cohesion and cooperation, we can't go on with party politics and populism and all sorts of party fighting. We have to build a consensus," she said.
    Tsipras has publicly said he disagrees with measures demanded by Greece's eurozone peers and the IMF for talks to proceed on a third bailout to save the country from bankruptcy.
    But after he made a U-turn by accepting a deal at the 11th hour to keep his country in the euro, he told party hardliners to face reality and back the package.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register