Greece’s parliament is to vote on a second package of measures demanded by international lenders to open talks on a new bailout deal.
It follows last week’s vote on a mix of economic reforms which was passed, but a revolt by 39 Syriza lawmakers raised questions over the government’s stability.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras needs to avoid a second significant rebellion from within the ranks of his party, Syriza. Last week’s vote reduced his support within his own ruling coalition to just 123, barely more than the minimum 120 required to sustain a minority government.
The core of the dissent came from the Left Platform faction, a group of left-wing hardliners under the leadership of former Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis. Other prominent Syriza legislators who voted against the measure include Parliament Speaker Zoe Konstantopoulou and former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis.
The Prime Minister has delivered a message to those who disagree with his choice to proceed with an agreement for a third bailout saying that they should propose alternatives instead of “hiding behind his signature.”
Tsipras is expected to get today's bill through parliament with the support of pro-European opposition parties.
The plenary debate is expected to begin at 9 a.m. in Athens with the vote in the Greek parliament scheduled for the same day at around midnight. The bill under consideration includes the transposition of the European Union’s Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive into national law, as well as an overhaul of Code of Civil Procedure.
However it will not include pension reforms curbing early retirement or increasing tax rates paid by farmers from 13 percent to a range of 26-33 percent - an issue strongly opposed by the conservative New Democracy party. However Deputy Agriculture Minister Vangelis Apostolou said legislation would be passed in August or September or even later, depending on discussions with the lenders.
“I am aware of the responsibility I have taken in making a difficult compromise,” Tsipras told colleagues at a meeting on Tuesday.
Tsipras also said that Syriza, should align itself with the party’s supporters in society at large. Once the bailout deal has been obtained, he’ll seek to redefine his government’s objectives “under the new circumstances”.