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Greece's Parliament narrowly passed a crucial austerity bill early Thursday, in a vote that left the coalition government reeling from dissent as it struggles to secure vital bailout funds.
Photo: REUTERS
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The bill, which will further slash pensions and salaries, passed 153-128 in the 300-member Parliament. It came hours after rioters rampaged outside Parliament during an 80,000-strong anti-austerity demonstration, clashing with riot police who responded with tear gas, stun grenades and water cannon.
Photo: REUTERS
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Approval of the cuts and tax rises worth 13.5 billion ($17 billion) over two years was a big step for Greek efforts to secure the next installment of its international rescue funds, and stave off imminent bankruptcy.
Photo: REUTERS
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But the close vote was a major political blow to the three-party coalition government, which holds a total of 176 seats in Parliament. The result shows support for continued austerity three years into Greece's financial crisis is dwindling fast.
Photo: REUTERS
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A hooded protester holds a Molotov cocktail as he taunts riot police during a violent demonstration in Syntagma square in central Athens November 7, 2012. Nearly 100,000 Greeks waving flags and chanting "Fight! They're drinking our blood" packed the square outside parliament as lawmakers neared a vote on unpopular budget cuts and labor reforms.
Photo: REUTERS
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mmediately after the vote and before the tally had been officially announced, two of the three coalition parties expelled a total of seven dissenting deputies from their ranks.
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During hours of acrimonious debate in Parliament, Samaras acknowledged that some of the measures in the bill were unfair, but insisted there were vital to avoid bankruptcy and Greece being forced out of the euro and back to its old currency, the drachma.
Photo: REUTERS
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Protestors clashed with police who tried to remove them from their location.
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A protester holds a rock during a violent demonstration in Syntagma square in central Athens November 7, 2012.
Photo: REUTERS
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The clashes also had to do with strikes throughout the city over the measures.
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Eighteen members of parliament voted present in the controversial affair.
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The live broadcast of the parliamentary vote was muted after the initial MP's were expelled.
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Some of the MP's that voted against the measure draped themselves in the Greek flag.
Photo: REUTERS
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Protesters also carried flags of other countries suffering austerity measures like Portugal and Italy.
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The measure caps a grueling process to pass the austerity bill in the country that is looking to avoid bankruptcy.
Photo: REUTERS
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Greece's Parliament narrowly passed a crucial austerity bill early Thursday, in a vote that left the coalition government reeling from dissent as it struggles to secure vital bailout funds.
Photo: REUTERS
