Greece passes tax and pension reforms

  • 16 minutes ago
  •  
  • From the section Europe
Close up of Alexis TsiprasImage copyrightEPA
Image captionPrime Minister Alexis Tsipras was first elected on an anti-austerity platform but later signed up to a bailout deal
Greece's parliament has passed a package of tax and pension reforms, ahead of a crucial meeting of Eurozone finance ministers on Monday.
Controversial austerity measures could unlock more international bailout money for the country, allowing it to access a loan instalment of €5bn (£4bn).
Before the vote, protesters in Athens threw petrol bombs at police, who responded with tear gas.
Trade unions say the country cannot bear another round of austerity.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said the bill aimed for a "sustainable" system that would "have social justice as its core principle", as only 7.5% of pensioners would see a cut in the money they got.
He said the finance ministers' meeting meant Monday would be "a very important day" as debt relief for Greece was on the agenda after "six long years" of austerity discussions.

Tax and pension changes

The debate in Greece's parliament lasted two days as MPs debated whether or not to install the unpopular pension and tax reforms. 
They will reduce some pension payouts, merge several pension funds, increase social security contributions and raise taxes for those on medium and high incomes.
Thousands of people demonstrated, mostly peacefully, in Athens and in the country's second-largest city, Thessaloniki. 
Three days of a general strike paralysed public transport and slowed the public sector and the media.
Speaking before the vote, the leader of the Greek Communist Party, Dimitris Koutsoubas, said the Greek people would "not tolerate nor accept" the measures and would "show their true power" in the event of a yes vote.
Fofi Gennimata, the leader of the centre-left Pasok party, said the bill represented the "total deconstruction of the pension system".
She said the people responsible for the yes vote had "promised everything" to protesters in public squares five years ago, but were now "justifiably" frightened to leave their offices.
The leftist Syriza party secured just enough votes to pass the measures, thanks to the ruling coalition's tiny majority.
In a parliament of 300 seats, it has 153 lawmakers.
Mr Tsipras was elected as prime minister on an anti-austerity ticket but later signed up to Greece's third international bailout since 2010. 
Greece agreed to a third rescue package worth €86bn (£60bn) last year.
The International Monetary Fund and other European partners are demanding that Greece implement further austerity measures to generate nearly €4bn (£3.1bn) in additional savings - contingency money in case Greece misses future budget targets.
Media captionPolice came under petrol bomb attack from a small number of protesters on Sunday

Spending cuts

Finance ministers from countries which use the euro will assess "a comprehensive package of policy reforms as well as the sustainability of Greece's public debt" at their Monday meeting in Brussels, a statement says.
Greece's Finance Minister Euclid Tsakolotos will be at the meeting in the hope of securing a deal.
"We have done what we promised and hence the IMF and Germany must provide a solution that is feasible," he said "a solution for the debt that will open a clear horizon for investors."
Last summer, Greece's debt crisis peaked when Athens defaulted on its debt payments and raised the spectre of an exit from the eurozone.
Greece is already looking to implement spending cuts that will amount to 3% of the country's gross domestic product or €5.4bn euros by 2018.