This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8032705.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Greek PM reprieved by bribe vote | Greek PM reprieved by bribe vote |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Greek parliament has voted against indicting an MP from the governing party, in a corruption probe that could have triggered early elections. | The Greek parliament has voted against indicting an MP from the governing party, in a corruption probe that could have triggered early elections. |
| Aristotle Pavlides, a former minister, was alleged to have solicited bribes in return for granting shipping contracts. | Aristotle Pavlides, a former minister, was alleged to have solicited bribes in return for granting shipping contracts. |
| His opponents were five votes short of the 151 needed in Greece's 300-seat parliament to indict him. Not all his party colleagues supported him. | |
| Mr Pavlides denies any wrongdoing and has refused to resign his seat. | Mr Pavlides denies any wrongdoing and has refused to resign his seat. |
| He would not have been forced to step down had MPs vote to send him for trial. | He would not have been forced to step down had MPs vote to send him for trial. |
| Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis would have faced intense pressure to sack him from the centre-right New Democracy party, leaving it with 150 seats. | Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis would have faced intense pressure to sack him from the centre-right New Democracy party, leaving it with 150 seats. |
| Members of the governing party did break ranks, and only 144 deputies voted in favour of Mr Pavlides. | Members of the governing party did break ranks, and only 144 deputies voted in favour of Mr Pavlides. |
| There were 8 blanks ballots. Opposition parties votes against him totalled 146. | There were 8 blanks ballots. Opposition parties votes against him totalled 146. |
| Popularity dented | Popularity dented |
| It is the latest corruption scandal to hit the government. | It is the latest corruption scandal to hit the government. |
| In October two ministers resigned after it emerged that state land was given to a monastery on Mount Athos, in return for much less valuable land. | In October two ministers resigned after it emerged that state land was given to a monastery on Mount Athos, in return for much less valuable land. |
| Previously, a labour minister quit after employing uninsured immigrants, and his predecessor was forced out amid a bond-trading scandal. | Previously, a labour minister quit after employing uninsured immigrants, and his predecessor was forced out amid a bond-trading scandal. |
| The government's popularity has also been badly dented by the financial crisis, and the shooting by police of a teenaged boy that triggered riots in December. | The government's popularity has also been badly dented by the financial crisis, and the shooting by police of a teenaged boy that triggered riots in December. |
| Opinion polls suggest the ruling New Democracy party faces a strong challenge from the socialist Pasok party in the European parliament elections in June. | Opinion polls suggest the ruling New Democracy party faces a strong challenge from the socialist Pasok party in the European parliament elections in June. |