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Greece PM Papandreou wins confidence vote Greece PM Papandreou wins confidence vote
(about 1 hour 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.
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."
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.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.
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.
George Papandreou has crossed the parliamentary hurdle, but several more remain.
He will seek a broad consensus on last week's bailout deal for Greece negotiated in Brussels, reaching out to the opposition. And he will inform the president that he intends to begin talks on forming a national unity government.
The question now is whether Mr Papandreou is simply buying time, trying to rebuild his credibility by voting through the bailout before calling a poll which he still hopes to win. Or is his aim to secure a ratification of the deal and then to seek a dignified exit?
With the opposition New Democracy party calling for his resignation, it would be difficult for Mr Papandreou to take the reins of a national unity government.
But the prime minister has shown himself to be a deeply unpredictable leader. Greeks - and all of Europe - are watching anxiously for his next move.
Although Mr Papandreou survived the confidence vote, the political situation in Greece still seemed far from certain.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.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."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.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.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.
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".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".
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.
The Greek crisis overshadowed the G20 summit in Cannes which ended on Friday.The Greek crisis overshadowed the G20 summit in Cannes which ended on Friday.
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.
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 may 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.