Multi-bill passed; PM Samaras ousts one MP; Greek gov’t thin majority

The multi bill needed o secure the next bailout tranche passed in a voting at the Greek Parliament late Sunday night.The multi-bill was compressed in two articles. Article 1 received 152 votes and Article 2 received 151.

Athens major candidate and Nea Dimokratia MP, Nikitas Kaklamanis, voted “present” instead of “Yes’ for Article 2. He was expelled from the party in no time through a letter submitted by prime minister Antonis Samaras to Parliament speaker.

In junior coalition government partner PASOK things were even worse. Former Prime minister George Papandreou voted NO to Article 2 referring to recapitalization of banks.

Now everyone is wondering whether PASOK president Evangelos Venizelos would dare expel Papandreou from the party his father has established.

Also another PASOK MP, Apostolos Kaklamanis, the brother of expelled lawmaker, voted No on Articel 2.

It is a common practice in Greek Parliament that parties expel lawmakers if they oppose the party line in crucial voting.

With Kaklamanis’ expulsion ND-PASOK coalition government holds a very thin majority of 152 seats in a Parliament of 300.

The so-called “4th austerity bill” passed with just 151 votes.

PS no worries, I don’t think Venizelos would dare expel Papandreou. But he would certainly have done so if the name of MP was “Papa-something”.

UPDATE: According to latest information, Greek media report that Venizelos decided to not  expel the two rebels.