Greek MPs back bailout reform plan

[Bosonic]

Source: BBC

Greece's parliament has backed a government package of economic reforms aimed at ending the country's debt crisis and securing a new bailout.

In a late-night debate, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras admitted many proposals fell short of his party's anti-austerity promises.

But he said there was a "national duty to keep our people alive and in the eurozone".

The proposals are to be studied by eurozone finance ministers later.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33491452

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Some gov't lawmakers abstain in reform vote

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The latest from Greece's financial crisis (all times local):

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3:47 a.m.

The official vote count for Greece's parliament vote to back reform proposals has been announced, with 251 lawmakers voting in favor, 32 against and 8 voting 'present' — a form of abstention.

The vote in the 300-member parliament was to authorize the government to use its reform proposals as a basis for negotiation with Greece's international creditors.

Those abstaining or absent from the vote included prominent governing Syriza party members such as Parliament Speaker Zoe Konstantopoulou, indicating a potentially severe dissent problem that could threaten the government's majority in Parliament. The governing coalition of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' Syriza party and the small Independent Greeks hold 162 seats.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ff42e1c67389404a8c0f5c27ea9e3039/latest-tsipras-meets-party-lawmakers-discuss-package