Greek Parliament passes multi-bill but coalition sees majority cut further

The omnibus bill containing liberalization measures and other reforms that Greece needed to pass to receive its next bailout tranche squeezed through Parliament at just after midnight on Sunday but the vote led to the government’s majority dwindling further.

The first article was supported by 152 votes in the 300-seat Parliament and the second article, which contained the rules governing Greece’s new bank framework, received just 151.

New Democracy MP Nikitas Kaklamanis, who did not back one of the articles, was immediately expelled from his party’s parliamentary group by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

There was no immediate reaction from PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos to the fact that veteran lawmaker Apostolos Kaklamanis and former Socialist chief and premier George Papandreou did not give their full support. Papandreou voting against the banking regulations, which set out rules for capital increase at banks that have been recaptilized with taxpayers’ money.

The government had been concerned about a rebellion from some of its own MPs but appears to have appeased them by making a last minute change to its provision for the shelf-life of pasteurized milk, which was reduced to seven days from the proposed nine. Until now, it had been five days.

Nevertheless, Sunday turned out to be a tension-filled day as SYRIZA failed in its attempt to have the vote on the multi-bill delayed, leading to the leftists walking out and only returning for the midnight vote.

Parliamentary speaker Evangelos Meimarakis that the main opposition party's motion of no-confidence in Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras was inadmissible, ensuring that debate on the multi-bill could continue.

Under parliamentary rules, debate on the motion...