The Greek parliament has approved a new international bailout deal, providing the crisis-hit country with additional 172 billion euro in rescue loans.
Politicians voted 213-79 in favor of the new agreement, with deputies backing the coalition government of socialists and conservatives broadly following party lines, according to express.co.uk.
Earlier, the Communist Party staged nationwide protests against the deal, including a rally outside parliament attended by several thousand demonstrators.
Greece narrowly avoided default this month after sealing the loan agreement – the second in two years – with eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund, as well as a massive debt restructuring deal with banks and other private bond holders.
"There is no other solution. If anyone has an alternative, let them come forward," Greece’s Deputy Finance Minister Philippos Sachinidis told parliament for the vote.
While the country remains cut off from long-term debt markets, it has continued to hold regular short-term debt auctions.
On March 20, the public debt management agency said borrowing costs dropped in a new 13-week treasury bill auction that raised 1.3 billion euro, with the country paying 4.25% compared to 4.61% last month.
Greece has been dependent on eurozone-IMF rescue loans since May 2010. In return for the second bailout, the government pledged to abolish 15,000 public sector jobs this year, while salaries, pensions and other benefits have suffered a new drastic round of cuts.
