SYRIZA can relax for summer… despite cracks in the party line

The government managed to pass a bill containing the second package of prior actions demanded by Greece’s creditors at dawn on Thursday with 230 votes in favor and 63 against. This time, the ruling Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) MPs supported the measures with 126 votes – from 123 votes last week – with rejections dropping from 39 during the first round of measures to 36 dissenters.

Former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis changed camps and voted ‘yes’, despite his ‘no’ vote during the last voting session. He supported the reforms to Greece’s legal system and banking sector because he believes that they are necessary as he had proposed them himself in the past. Four other SYRIZA ministers changed their vote from ‘present’ to ‘yes’ and one ‘no’ to a present. Two MPs that had voted in favor of the first round of measures, voted present this time around.

The three extra votes may not seem like much but they make a world of difference to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras as he still has the majority support with over 120 MPs. This means that an obstacle has been overcome with the vote clearing the way for Greece to begin formal talks with its lenders on a three-year package of loans that could be worth 86 bn euros. Negotiations are until August 20 so that Greece can come under the European Stability Mechanism’s umbrella.