The approvals will clear the way for the European Stability Mechanism, the euro area’s financial backstop, to set in motion the first payout in time for Greece to meet a 3.2 billion-euro payment to the European Central Bank Thursday.
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Tsipras also wrote to European Parliament President Martin Schulz on Wednesday to ask for the body to be included in the group of institutions monitoring Greece’s bailout.
A bitter debate on the Greek deal is underway in the Dutch parliament, but lawmakers are expected to back the bailout.
Without the rescue loans – Greece’s third bailout in little more than five years – the country would have defaulted on its debts and faced being forced out of the eurozone.
There remains three billion euros in the first tranche, which will be disbursed in September or October provided certain reforms are carried out, according to officials.
“But considering the fact that the Greek parliament already approved most of the (stipulated reform) measures, it would be irresponsible not to seize this chance for a new beginning in Greece“, he said to applause from the chamber as Merkel looked on.
Germany’s Lower House backed the programme, following a three-hour debate yesterday, with 454 in favour, 113 against and 18 abstentions. Sixty of out of 311 voted “no” or abstained, fewer than some in her party had feared.
Both the junior member of Merkel’s ruling coalition, the left-leaning Social Democrats, and the opposition Greens had signalled their intention to support the rescue plan. These have since been eased slightly, but not removed.
Tsipras has been contemplating his options after a parliament vote to approve the bailout conditions led to dozens of his own party lawmakers voting against him.
“There are two views in order to have a strengthened government – elections either before or after the first bailout review”. “We need to know whether the government has or does not have a majority”, he told state TV channel ERT.
Schaeuble had taken a tougher line than Merkel in bailout talks.
The government has been rumored to be considering either early elections or calling a confidence vote since Tsipras faced a party rebellion over a bailout vote in parliament last week.
The EU and International Monetary Fund provided €110 billion in bailout loans to Greece to help the government pay its creditors in 2010.
Many Syriza MPs believe Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras allowed the eurozone lenders to dictate unacceptable terms to Greece, violating the country’s sovereignty. “And whether it is used, only the Greeks will decide” he said.
Tsipras won power only in January and fresh elections would be the third in as many years.
“If Greece stands by its obligations and implements the programme in full and with determination, then the Greek economy can grow again”.
Deutschland MPs have overpoweringly approved a 3rd bailout agreement for Greece, despite rivals from conservative politicians.
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“If you run your ahead into the wall twice it might be worth looking for a door and this case its called ‘Grexit, ‘” said Klaus-Peter Willsch, a prominent conservative critic of the bailouts.
