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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Greek parliament passes new tax increases | Greek parliament passes new tax increases |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Greek parliament has approved a series of unpopular tax rises aimed at boosting revenue in line with Athens' commitments to international creditors. | The Greek parliament has approved a series of unpopular tax rises aimed at boosting revenue in line with Athens' commitments to international creditors. |
| The measures, approved overnight, introduce a new top tax rate of 42% for Greeks earning more than 42,000 euros (£34,700; $56,000) a year. | The measures, approved overnight, introduce a new top tax rate of 42% for Greeks earning more than 42,000 euros (£34,700; $56,000) a year. |
| Corporate rates also go up and the tax base now includes low-earning farmers. | Corporate rates also go up and the tax base now includes low-earning farmers. |
| Greece has been kept solvent by huge rescue loans from its EU partners and the IMF since May 2010. | Greece has been kept solvent by huge rescue loans from its EU partners and the IMF since May 2010. |
| The Conservative-led government insists the new measures, designed to raise up to 2.3bn euros this year, are fair. | The Conservative-led government insists the new measures, designed to raise up to 2.3bn euros this year, are fair. |
| "We are not in favour of taxes," Deputy Finance Minister Giorgos Mavraganis said. "But in the current situation we must lead the country out of its impasse." | "We are not in favour of taxes," Deputy Finance Minister Giorgos Mavraganis said. "But in the current situation we must lead the country out of its impasse." |
| The changes are part of an overall package approved in November to allow Greece to qualify for further bailout funds. | The changes are part of an overall package approved in November to allow Greece to qualify for further bailout funds. |
| But the opposition say the tax rises will increase hardship for ordinary Greeks. The main opposition Radical Left Coalition says austerity has "demolished the country's middle classes". | But the opposition say the tax rises will increase hardship for ordinary Greeks. The main opposition Radical Left Coalition says austerity has "demolished the country's middle classes". |
| Deep spending cuts and job losses have triggered street unrest across Greece in recent years. | Deep spending cuts and job losses have triggered street unrest across Greece in recent years. |