A new bill with additional measures required by Greece’s creditors has been submitted in Parliament, with the critical vote expected to take place on Wednesday. In order for Greece to receive a third bailout package, the government agreed to implement a number of measures, many of which have proven to be controversial.
A number of provisions regarding the taxation of farmers and pensions were removed from Wednesday’s bill, with a European official however informing the Athens Macedonia News Agency that while reforms are not amongst the prerequisites set out in the agreement of the 22nd of July, they must be included in the next reform that must be enacted in early August.
The decision to remove these particular provisions suggests that the government wants to avoid any further clashes in Parliament, such as last week, when 39 SYRIZA MPs decided to not support the bill of measures. This development has brought into question the coalition government’s majority vote in Parliament and increased the possibility of new snap elections later this year.
These provisions however are not only controversial for the governing parties, since there is major skepticism and a reluctance to approve changes to the taxation of farmers amongst New Democracy MPs. The main opposition party has arranged an informal political council meeting for Tuesday afternoon, where many MPs are expected to oppose these provisions. Likewise, PASOK’s parliamentary group has announced that it will not support the measures.
ADEDY calls new demonstration for Wednesday
The country’s largest public sector trade union ADEDY has announced a demonstration outside Parliament for 7:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday, when the plenary session will be under way. ADEDY has called the people to join pubic sector employees in their struggle against the new bailout, overturn the austerity and defend popular sovereignty, independence and democracy.
