Parliament passes austerity package to slash $40bn off national debt, with 155 MPs voting in favour and 138 against.
The Greek parliament has passed an austerity package by a slim majority to slash $40bn off the national debt.
Wednesday's vote saw 155 members of parliament vote in favour, 138 against and 5 abstentions.
The package of taxes, spending cuts and privatisations has angered many Greeks, with thousands taking to the streets as part of a 48-hour national strike protesting against the bill.
Parliament will hold a second vote on Thursday aimed at changing a law allowing the measures to be implemented.
George Papandreou, the Greek prime minister, has said the second bailout will be roughly equal a previous package last year.
Papanderou expelled a Greek ruling party deputy who voted against the austerity packagae.
The five-year austerity package will allow Greece to secure a second bailout of $17bn of emergency loan funds on top of last year's $157bn bailout.
Source and full story: Al Jazeera, 29 June 2011
