Despite a heated debate in parliament and violent demonstrations outside, the Greek parliament managed to gain the votes it needed on Wednesday to get the first of two austerity bills passed on tax hikes, spending cutbacks and privatizations. With 5 members of parliament abstaining and 2 absent, the Greek government passed the bills with 155 votes in favor and 138 against, clearing the way for a second vote on Thursday.
Elsa Papadimitriou, who stated ahead of the vote, “I will vote, yes, and hope the government will not disappoint me,” turned her back on her own opposition party by doing just that. Claiming, “It was the most important decision and challenge of her political life,” Papadimitriou, voted wholeheartedly for the package, defying her New Democracy party who bitterly contested the latest package of EU-IMF austerity measures.
After the voting was over, Papadimitriou was quoted as saying, “As an independent Member of Parliament, I will try to face all the difficulties.”
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