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Greece PM Papandreou wins confidence vote Greece PM Papandreou wins confidence vote
(40 minutes later)
  
Greece's PM George Papandreou has won a crucial confidence vote after promising to hold power-sharing talks.Greece's PM George Papandreou has won a crucial confidence vote after promising to hold power-sharing talks.
In an address to parliament before the vote he ruled out snap elections, saying they would be "catastrophic".In an address to parliament before the vote he ruled out snap elections, saying they would be "catastrophic".
He said he did not care about his post and the leadership of any government of national unity would be negotiable.He said he did not care about his post and the leadership of any government of national unity would be negotiable.
Mr Papandreou previously shocked EU partners and sent markets into turmoil after calling for a referendum on an EU deal to bail out debt-ridden Greece.Mr Papandreou previously shocked EU partners and sent markets into turmoil after calling for a referendum on an EU deal to bail out debt-ridden Greece.
The finance minister confirmed on Friday the referendum had now been scrapped.
Mr Papandreou said the bail-out deal currently on offer by the EU had to be accepted, and it would be "historically irresponsible" to lose it.Mr Papandreou said the bail-out deal currently on offer by the EU had to be accepted, and it would be "historically irresponsible" to lose it.
He said immediate elections would be "catastrophic" for the deal, so proposed a new coalition to take charge until it had been agreed.He said immediate elections would be "catastrophic" for the deal, so proposed a new coalition to take charge until it had been agreed.
"I have been in contact with the president and I will visit him tomorrow (Saturday) to inform him of my intentions and that I am moving forward with all the parties for a broader coalition government, and to agree on common goals, a timeframe and people, to agree on its composition and even the head of this coalition," he said."I have been in contact with the president and I will visit him tomorrow (Saturday) to inform him of my intentions and that I am moving forward with all the parties for a broader coalition government, and to agree on common goals, a timeframe and people, to agree on its composition and even the head of this coalition," he said.
"I therefore ask for a vote of confidence in order to ensure the security of this nation.""I therefore ask for a vote of confidence in order to ensure the security of this nation."
In Athens, thousands of protesters have gathered in Syntagma Square for the vote, and security has been tightened around the nearby parliament building.
The vote took place after several hours' debate. Mr Papandreou addressed parliament for more than half an hour.The vote took place after several hours' debate. Mr Papandreou addressed parliament for more than half an hour.
Thousands of protesters have gathered in Athens' Syntagma Square. Security has been tightened around the nearby parliament building.
Eurozone leaders fear that failure to solve the Greek debt crisis could risk it spreading to other vulnerable economies, particularly Italy.Eurozone leaders fear that failure to solve the Greek debt crisis could risk it spreading to other vulnerable economies, particularly Italy.
Germany had said a referendum would essentially be a vote on whether Greece wanted to be part of the EU and that the stability of the eurozone was more important than Greek membership.
Motives questioned
The figures in the Greek parliament revealed Mr Papandreou's vulnerability. His governing Socialist party (Pasok) held a tiny majority - 152 out of 300 seats. In the end 153 MPs voted for the government.The figures in the Greek parliament revealed Mr Papandreou's vulnerability. His governing Socialist party (Pasok) held a tiny majority - 152 out of 300 seats. In the end 153 MPs voted for the government.
The vote was timed to take place when the markets in Europe and the US are closed, such is the sensitivity of the issue.The vote was timed to take place when the markets in Europe and the US are closed, such is the sensitivity of the issue.
There had been serious divisions in Pasok on the referendum, with Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos insisting it should not be held. Although Mr Papandreou survived the confidence vote, the political situation in Greece still seemed far from certain.
Leader of the main opposition New Democracy party Antonis Samaras rejected the prime minister's idea of a coalition government and repeated his demands for immediate elections.
"Mr Papandreou rejected our proposal. The only solution is elections," a party spokesman quoted Mr Samaras as saying.
On Thursday Mr Samaras led his MPs in a dramatic walkout of parliament.
The proposed referendum had caused serious divisions in Pasok, with Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos insisting it should not be held.
He told European partners on Friday that Greece had officially scrapped the referendum.He told European partners on Friday that Greece had officially scrapped the referendum.
Mr Venizelos said he had informed EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and eurozone chairman Jean-Claude Juncker of the decision.Mr Venizelos said he had informed EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and eurozone chairman Jean-Claude Juncker of the decision.
Mr Papandreou had earlier said the referendum was never an end in itself, and there were two other choices - an election, which he said would bankrupt the country, or a consensus in parliament.Mr Papandreou had earlier said the referendum was never an end in itself, and there were two other choices - an election, which he said would bankrupt the country, or a consensus in parliament.
He called for talks with the opposition on a coalition government. Earlier on Friday, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told the BBC he expected a government of national unity to be formed in Greece and that the economic problems "will be solved".
The strategy of the main opposition New Democracy is unclear.
Its leader Antonis Samaras on Thursday led his MPs in a dramatic walkout of parliament and called for snap elections.
Mr Samaras questioned the motives behind Mr Papandreou's actions.
"I am wondering; Mr Papandreou almost destroyed Greece and Europe, the euro, the international stock markets, his own party in order to ensure what? So that he could blackmail me and the Greek public? Or to ensure what I had already said several days ago; that I accept the bailout agreement as unavoidable?"
New Democracy MP Simos Kedikoglou told the BBC's World Today programme that while it backed adopting the bailout, that did not mean it supported Mr Papandreou remaining prime minister.
Government sources told Reuters news agency that Mr Papandreou had agreed at a cabinet meeting on Thursday to stand down once he had negotiated a coalition with the opposition.
One source said: "He was told that he must leave calmly in order to save his party. He agreed to step down. It was very civilised, with no acrimony."
Health Minister Andreas Loverdos wrote on his blog on Friday that it was "inconceivable" that the government should win the confidence vote "and then pretend that nothing had happened".
"Unless immediate steps are taken toward the formation of a national unity government, I will no longer wish to take part in that political process," he said.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told the BBC's Today programme he expected a government of national unity to be formed and that the economic problems "will be solved".
In another development on Friday, international ratings agency Moody's cut Cyprus's credit grade by two notches - to the brink of junk status - over its banking sector's exposure to Greek bonds.In another development on Friday, international ratings agency Moody's cut Cyprus's credit grade by two notches - to the brink of junk status - over its banking sector's exposure to Greek bonds.
Opinion poll The Greek crisis overshadowed the G20 summit in Cannes which ended on Friday.
The G20 met for its second and final day in Cannes on Friday.
UK Finance Minister George Osborne said that it was important for the world to be prepared for whatever happened in Greece.
EU President Herman Van Rompuy said leaders had agreed to increase the firepower of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but gave no specifics on the funding.EU President Herman Van Rompuy said leaders had agreed to increase the firepower of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but gave no specifics on the funding.
At the end of the first day, the French host, President Nicolas Sarkozy, said France and Germany had helped Greek politicians focus on what was at stake.
Mr Papandreou had been summoned for urgent talks at the G20 on Wednesday, where he was told that any referendum would turn on the question of whether Greece wanted to stay in the eurozone.Mr Papandreou had been summoned for urgent talks at the G20 on Wednesday, where he was told that any referendum would turn on the question of whether Greece wanted to stay in the eurozone.
The next tranche of Greece's existing bailout was also put on hold.The next tranche of Greece's existing bailout was also put on hold.
Without the bailout funds, Greece will probably go bankrupt before the end of the year. Without the bailout funds, Greece may go bankrupt before the end of the year.
The EU bailout deal, agreed last month, would give the heavily indebted Greek government 130bn euros (£111bn; $178bn) and it imposes a 50% write-off on private holders of Greek debts, in return for deeply unpopular austerity measures.The EU bailout deal, agreed last month, would give the heavily indebted Greek government 130bn euros (£111bn; $178bn) and it imposes a 50% write-off on private holders of Greek debts, in return for deeply unpopular austerity measures.
Although the Greek public has strongly resisted the austerity measures, a recent opinion poll in a newspaper showed 70% wanted to remain within the eurozone.Although the Greek public has strongly resisted the austerity measures, a recent opinion poll in a newspaper showed 70% wanted to remain within the eurozone.