With 155 “Yes” coalition government partners Nea Dimokratia-PASOK and one independent MP voted in favor of another austerity budget for debt-ridden Greece. 134 opposition MPs and independent MPs voted “No”. One independent MP voted “Present”. The voting took place in the presence of 290 lawmakers as ten lawmakers were absent. Of them 8 MPs form Golden Dawn are in custody pending trial.
The Budget 2015 voting is one of the Troika preconditions to continue bailout aid to Greece.
In the Eurogroup meeting today, Monday, in Brussels, Greece is expected to ask for an extension of 1-2 months of the bailout program, while the Troika tends more for a 6-month extension.
Greece s would love to end the bailout program on time, but the country’s lenders see a fiscal gap of 2.5 billion euro and therefore they push for austerity extension.
According to Greek media, the coalition government considers to accelerate the voting for the new President of the Hellenic Republic originally in order to “halt the political and economic uncertainty.”
Speaking at the Parliament on Sunday, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said that “the voting of the President is my priority” and that “the voting was the next step the Parliament has to take.”
Education Minister Andreas Loverdos said Sunday that “the voting procedure could start on January 7th 2015″ right after the Christmas break. According to Constitution, the voting procedure should start in February, when the term of current President terminates.
The voting procedure needs 3 voting rounds and at least 180 votes.
Coalition Nea Dimokratia and PASOK have together 154 seat in the Parliament and they may gain some votes also from independent MPs or some defiant from opposition parties.
If the current Parliament fails to vote for the President, the Parliament has to be dissolved and new, early elections are due.
