This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2015/jul/22/business-live-greece-votes-on-further-bailout-reforms
The article has changed 37 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Next version
| Version 34 | Version 35 |
|---|---|
| Business live: Greek parliament approves bailout reform package - as it happened | Business live: Greek parliament approves bailout reform package - as it happened |
| (25 days later) | |
| 3.28am BST | 3.28am BST |
| 03:28 | 03:28 |
| Closing summary: Tsipras faces down rebels to win bailout vote | Closing summary: Tsipras faces down rebels to win bailout vote |
| Time to wrap up, with a quick recap, as dawn prepares to break over Athens. | Time to wrap up, with a quick recap, as dawn prepares to break over Athens. |
| Greek MPs have voted by a wide margin to approve the latest economic reforms demanded by its lenders. | Greek MPs have voted by a wide margin to approve the latest economic reforms demanded by its lenders. |
| At another late-night session in parliament, 230 MPs backed the plan while just 63 opposed it. | At another late-night session in parliament, 230 MPs backed the plan while just 63 opposed it. |
| And Alexis Tsipras again faced down rebels within his own party who oppose a third bailout. 36 Syriza MPs either voted no or abstained, three fewer than at a similar vote last week. | And Alexis Tsipras again faced down rebels within his own party who oppose a third bailout. 36 Syriza MPs either voted no or abstained, three fewer than at a similar vote last week. |
| The vote clears the way for Greece to begin formal talks with its lenders on a three-year package of loans that could be worth €86bn. | The vote clears the way for Greece to begin formal talks with its lenders on a three-year package of loans that could be worth €86bn. |
| Parliament approves latest measures ahead of 3rd bailout talks: 230 voted in favour, 63 against, 5 abstained & 2 absent #Greece | Parliament approves latest measures ahead of 3rd bailout talks: 230 voted in favour, 63 against, 5 abstained & 2 absent #Greece |
| Before the vote, Tsipras urged MPs to support the bailout, which will save Greece from bankruptcy and preserve its place in the eurozone. | Before the vote, Tsipras urged MPs to support the bailout, which will save Greece from bankruptcy and preserve its place in the eurozone. |
| “We made difficult choices and now we must all adapt to the new situation,” he told MPs, repeating that he doesn’t agree with many of the reforms - but will do his best to implement them. | “We made difficult choices and now we must all adapt to the new situation,” he told MPs, repeating that he doesn’t agree with many of the reforms - but will do his best to implement them. |
| Tsipras was again backed by Greece’s main opposition parties, although they also criticised the PM for leading the country to the brink. | Tsipras was again backed by Greece’s main opposition parties, although they also criticised the PM for leading the country to the brink. |
| And his former finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, supported the measures, having voted against the government a week ago. He believes that the reforms to Greece’s legal system and banking sector are necessary, and had proposed them himself in the past: | And his former finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, supported the measures, having voted against the government a week ago. He believes that the reforms to Greece’s legal system and banking sector are necessary, and had proposed them himself in the past: |
| @IrateGreek No leftist accuses me of treachery & no rightist will ever welcome me. Plus I think I explained it fully http://t.co/24ykYbNB8L | @IrateGreek No leftist accuses me of treachery & no rightist will ever welcome me. Plus I think I explained it fully http://t.co/24ykYbNB8L |
| The vote came after thousands of anti-austerity protesters marched in Athens. The demo was marred by a brief outbreak of violence at the end, when a few petrol bombs were thrown at riot police. | The vote came after thousands of anti-austerity protesters marched in Athens. The demo was marred by a brief outbreak of violence at the end, when a few petrol bombs were thrown at riot police. |
| And earlier in the day, the European Central Bank provided €900m in extra emergency liquidity to keep Greece’s banks running. However, the country is still subjected to stringent capital controls. | And earlier in the day, the European Central Bank provided €900m in extra emergency liquidity to keep Greece’s banks running. However, the country is still subjected to stringent capital controls. |
| Here’s our full story: | Here’s our full story: |
| Related: Greek parliament approves next phase in bailout reforms | Related: Greek parliament approves next phase in bailout reforms |
| I’ll be back in a few hours to cover all the reaction to the vote, and other developments. Goodnight! GW | I’ll be back in a few hours to cover all the reaction to the vote, and other developments. Goodnight! GW |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.29am BST | at 3.29am BST |
| 3.16am BST | 3.16am BST |
| 03:16 | 03:16 |
| Former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has written a blog post explaining that he voted Yes because he supports the economic reforms on the table tonight, and had even proposed them himself in the past. | Former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has written a blog post explaining that he voted Yes because he supports the economic reforms on the table tonight, and had even proposed them himself in the past. |
| Γιατί υπερψήφισα απόψε http://t.co/24ykYbNB8L | Γιατί υπερψήφισα απόψε http://t.co/24ykYbNB8L |
| Last week, Varoufakis had opposed the tax rises and spending cuts demanded by creditors. | Last week, Varoufakis had opposed the tax rises and spending cuts demanded by creditors. |
| 3.12am BST | 3.12am BST |
| 03:12 | 03:12 |
| There were some tired faces in the Athens parliament tonight: | There were some tired faces in the Athens parliament tonight: |
| 2.40am BST | 2.40am BST |
| 02:40 | 02:40 |
| Alexis Tsipras should take comfort that the 36 Syriza rebels who voted ‘no’ tonight didn’t thwart his bailout deal. | Alexis Tsipras should take comfort that the 36 Syriza rebels who voted ‘no’ tonight didn’t thwart his bailout deal. |
| Here’s Reuters early take: | Here’s Reuters early take: |
| Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faced down a revolt by rebels in his leftists Syriza party to win parliament’s backing on Thursday for a second package of reforms required to start talks on a financial rescue deal. | Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faced down a revolt by rebels in his leftists Syriza party to win parliament’s backing on Thursday for a second package of reforms required to start talks on a financial rescue deal. |
| The bill - containing judicial and banking reforms - easily passed with the support of 230 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament thanks to the support of pro-euro opposition parties. | The bill - containing judicial and banking reforms - easily passed with the support of 230 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament thanks to the support of pro-euro opposition parties. |
| But 36 out of 149 deputies from his Syriza party voted against the overall bill or abstained - less than the rebellion by 39 deputies in last week’s vote on an initial set of reforms. | But 36 out of 149 deputies from his Syriza party voted against the overall bill or abstained - less than the rebellion by 39 deputies in last week’s vote on an initial set of reforms. |
| Final tally marginally better for #Tsipras than last week. His position secure. But how long will Zoe Konstantopoulou last? | Final tally marginally better for #Tsipras than last week. His position secure. But how long will Zoe Konstantopoulou last? |
| 2.32am BST | 2.32am BST |
| 02:32 | 02:32 |
| All the votes appear to be in, and the result is: | All the votes appear to be in, and the result is: |
| So as expected, a solid victory. And that means that formal negotiations over a third bailout worth around €86bn can begin in the coming days, and potentially be completed by the second half of August. | So as expected, a solid victory. And that means that formal negotiations over a third bailout worth around €86bn can begin in the coming days, and potentially be completed by the second half of August. |
| But what about Tsipras’s own party? | But what about Tsipras’s own party? |
| It looks like 36 Syriza MPs have either voted against the bailout plan, or abstained/been absent. That’s three fewer rebels than at the first bailout vote a week ago. So, slightly better, but still not great for Alexis Tsipras. | It looks like 36 Syriza MPs have either voted against the bailout plan, or abstained/been absent. That’s three fewer rebels than at the first bailout vote a week ago. So, slightly better, but still not great for Alexis Tsipras. |
| Only three less defections from Syriza. Tsipras must've been waiting for a better result. Syriza division looks inevitable now. #Greece | Only three less defections from Syriza. Tsipras must've been waiting for a better result. Syriza division looks inevitable now. #Greece |
| 2.25am BST | 2.25am BST |
| 02:25 | 02:25 |
| Greek parliament approves reforms package | Greek parliament approves reforms package |
| It’s official - the Greek government has more than 150 votes in favour of tonight’s package of reforms (there are 300 seats in parliament). | It’s official - the Greek government has more than 150 votes in favour of tonight’s package of reforms (there are 300 seats in parliament). |
| Greek lawmakers approve new creditor-demanded reforms, clearing way for bailout talks - AP | Greek lawmakers approve new creditor-demanded reforms, clearing way for bailout talks - AP |
| 2.23am BST | 2.23am BST |
| 02:23 | 02:23 |
| Yanis’s former press officer tweets: | Yanis’s former press officer tweets: |
| Yes, this is correct, @yanisvaroufakis voted "Yes" in a "prior action" vote in parliament at around 4am July 23 | Yes, this is correct, @yanisvaroufakis voted "Yes" in a "prior action" vote in parliament at around 4am July 23 |
| 2.22am BST | 2.22am BST |
| 02:22 | 02:22 |
| Several government MPs who rebelled a week ago are now backing the package. That appears to include former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis (we’ll have to check the roll count at the end) | Several government MPs who rebelled a week ago are now backing the package. That appears to include former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis (we’ll have to check the roll count at the end) |
| Looking better for Tsipras. 4 SYRIZA MPs who abstained last week vote "Yes" this time, according to @aris_ravanos. Varoufakis from No to YEs | Looking better for Tsipras. 4 SYRIZA MPs who abstained last week vote "Yes" this time, according to @aris_ravanos. Varoufakis from No to YEs |
| 2.19am BST | 2.19am BST |
| 02:19 | 02:19 |
| Voting begins | Voting begins |
| And finally, the vote is under way.... with many MPs voting to accept the package of reforms: | And finally, the vote is under way.... with many MPs voting to accept the package of reforms: |
| #Greek government has enough votes to approve bailout prior actions bill!!!!!.............. as expected | #Greek government has enough votes to approve bailout prior actions bill!!!!!.............. as expected |
| 1.37am BST | 1.37am BST |
| 01:37 | 01:37 |
| Now it’s speaker Konstantopolou’s turn, and she’s repeating her critism of Greece’s lenders for attempting a coup (she says) at last week’s summit: | Now it’s speaker Konstantopolou’s turn, and she’s repeating her critism of Greece’s lenders for attempting a coup (she says) at last week’s summit: |
| Speaker Konstantopoulou: "Ownership" is term used by IMF to avoid responsibility for countries it destroyed #Greece pic.twitter.com/gxbpcG9orh | Speaker Konstantopoulou: "Ownership" is term used by IMF to avoid responsibility for countries it destroyed #Greece pic.twitter.com/gxbpcG9orh |
| 1.23am BST | 1.23am BST |
| 01:23 | 01:23 |
| Defending his government, Pappas is challenging MPs to either support Greece’s bailout deal or propose something better: | Defending his government, Pappas is challenging MPs to either support Greece’s bailout deal or propose something better: |
| Put up or shut up is a summary of what @nikospappas16 is saying. @tsipras_eu's seat remains empty. Catching 40 winks if he's got any sense. | Put up or shut up is a summary of what @nikospappas16 is saying. @tsipras_eu's seat remains empty. Catching 40 winks if he's got any sense. |
| 1.18am BST | 1.18am BST |
| 01:18 | 01:18 |
| Here comes minister Nikos Pappas...... and he’s arguing that Greece needs to think about the kind of Europe it wants to be part of (not merely whether it’s in, or out, of the single currency) | Here comes minister Nikos Pappas...... and he’s arguing that Greece needs to think about the kind of Europe it wants to be part of (not merely whether it’s in, or out, of the single currency) |
| Minister of state Nikos Pappas says we need to wrap up and finish at a "human hour". And it's already 3.10am. #vouli pic.twitter.com/gIPRV7MU0E | Minister of state Nikos Pappas says we need to wrap up and finish at a "human hour". And it's already 3.10am. #vouli pic.twitter.com/gIPRV7MU0E |
| Quite..... | Quite..... |
| 1.14am BST | 1.14am BST |
| 01:14 | 01:14 |
| It can’t be long until the vote (he types, hopefully), but first the house may hear from minister of state Nikos Pappas, and then House speaker Zoe Konstantopoulou. | It can’t be long until the vote (he types, hopefully), but first the house may hear from minister of state Nikos Pappas, and then House speaker Zoe Konstantopoulou. |
| Remember when they said the vote would be at 3am LOL #greece #vouli | Remember when they said the vote would be at 3am LOL #greece #vouli |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.19am BST | at 1.19am BST |
| 1.08am BST | 1.08am BST |
| 01:08 | 01:08 |
| No-one does shouting and arguing quite like Greek politicians.... | No-one does shouting and arguing quite like Greek politicians.... |
| And.... yes we are now having a full blown debate about Marxist philosophy in Greek Parliament at 3 a.m. #Greece | And.... yes we are now having a full blown debate about Marxist philosophy in Greek Parliament at 3 a.m. #Greece |
| Now we've deputy speaker Mitropoulos shouting at finance minister @tsakalotos. #Vouli | Now we've deputy speaker Mitropoulos shouting at finance minister @tsakalotos. #Vouli |
| 1.06am BST | 1.06am BST |
| 01:06 | 01:06 |
| Defence spending is not included in tonight’s package of measures, but MPs are still discussing it (among other matters) | Defence spending is not included in tonight’s package of measures, but MPs are still discussing it (among other matters) |
| In last 30 mins, we've heard about proportional voting, CDS & submarines among other assorted items. Remind me what we're voting on #Greece | In last 30 mins, we've heard about proportional voting, CDS & submarines among other assorted items. Remind me what we're voting on #Greece |
| 12.58am BST | 12.58am BST |
| 00:58 | 00:58 |
| Now it’s the turn of Evangelos Venizelos, the former Pasok leader and deputy PM, to clash with ANEL leader Panos Kammenos. | Now it’s the turn of Evangelos Venizelos, the former Pasok leader and deputy PM, to clash with ANEL leader Panos Kammenos. |
| Two big men in suits facing off at three in the morning. | Two big men in suits facing off at three in the morning. |
| This isn’t going to get the vote completed any faster, guys. #bedtime | This isn’t going to get the vote completed any faster, guys. #bedtime |
| 12.55am BST | 12.55am BST |
| 00:55 | 00:55 |
| It’s almost 3am in Athens, so with any luck the vote might take place shortly. | It’s almost 3am in Athens, so with any luck the vote might take place shortly. |
| There’s not been much serious debate about these reform measures in the last few minutes - but the leaders of Pasok and ANEL (the Independent Greeks, who are Tsipras’s coalition partners) have clashed: | There’s not been much serious debate about these reform measures in the last few minutes - but the leaders of Pasok and ANEL (the Independent Greeks, who are Tsipras’s coalition partners) have clashed: |
| #PASOK Gennimata slams #ANEL Kammenos about his 'populist conspiratorialism and poisonous lies.' #vouli | #PASOK Gennimata slams #ANEL Kammenos about his 'populist conspiratorialism and poisonous lies.' #vouli |
| 12.26am BST | 12.26am BST |
| 00:26 | 00:26 |
| Tonight’s result isn’t in doubt, as the mainstream opposition parties have confirmed they’ll support the government. | Tonight’s result isn’t in doubt, as the mainstream opposition parties have confirmed they’ll support the government. |
| Everyone is waiting to see how many of Alexis Tsipras’s MPs rebel against the austerity package, though. Last week, 32 Syriza MPs voted no and 6 abstained. That was very nearly enough to rob the PM of his majority - so he’ll be hoping the rebel camp doesn’t swell. | Everyone is waiting to see how many of Alexis Tsipras’s MPs rebel against the austerity package, though. Last week, 32 Syriza MPs voted no and 6 abstained. That was very nearly enough to rob the PM of his majority - so he’ll be hoping the rebel camp doesn’t swell. |
| 12.14am BST | 12.14am BST |
| 00:14 | 00:14 |
| Now parliament is hearing from Fofi Gennimata, head of the left-wing Pasok party (and owner of a rather eye-catching jacket): | Now parliament is hearing from Fofi Gennimata, head of the left-wing Pasok party (and owner of a rather eye-catching jacket): |
| Pasok leader Gennimata: You attacked us for 5 years, and lost so much in 5 months #Greece pic.twitter.com/nYnz81o7Dw | Pasok leader Gennimata: You attacked us for 5 years, and lost so much in 5 months #Greece pic.twitter.com/nYnz81o7Dw |