Against a backdrop of street protests, strikes, occupations of public buildings and left and right wing opposition in Parliament, and after a few minor last minute amendments to the 109 articles multi bill, the New Democracy-PASOK Greek Government managed to pass this morning through Parliament another austerity bill.
The bill voted in by 153 MP’s in the 300-seat Greek Parliament was a prerequisite imposed by the troika in order to unlock another instalment of nearly 7 billion euros to Greece.
The bill that, amongst other, obliges the Greek government to fire 15,000 public employees by the end of 2014 and transfer 12,500 to other jobs was passed hours before the German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble arrives in Athens.
