Greek MPs pass austerity bill as Athens police clash with protesters
by Helena Smith and Emma Graham-Harrison in Athens, B from on (#EESP)
Alexis Tsipras drives through tax increases and pensions shakeup amid angry splits in his Syriza party
Five years into the worst crisis to hit their country in decades, Greek MPs voted by a large majority in the early hours of Thursday morning to accept draconian austerity as the price of further bailout funds but at great personal cost to prime minister Alexis Tsipras.
In a vote that saw tensions soar in and outside parliament, the embattled leader's radical leftist Syriza party suffered huge losses as 40 MPs revolted against the measures. A total of 229 lawmakers voted in favour of the internationally mandated measures, 64 against and six abstained.
Related: Greek crisis: MPs approve bailout measures, after clashes in Athens - live
Continue reading...