ATHENS, Greece (AP) – A Greek minister indicates it is highly likely Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will call for a vote of confidence in his government after a bailout deal with foreign creditors sparked a rebellion within his governing Syriza party. Greece’s European partners did not seem enthusiastic at the prospect and reportedly warned the Greek delegation at the recent Eurogroup against such an idea.
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However, asked on Skai television about the possibility of a parliamentary confidence vote after this, Skourletis said: “I consider it self-evident after the deep wound in Syriza’s parliamentary group for there to be such a move“. The deal is the first in a wave of privatizations the government had until recently opposed but needs to make to qualify for bailout loans. Government and Syriza officials reject the possibility of a new government being formed from the current Parliament and instead prefer the “clear solution” of calling general elections.
Tsipras was forced to back down to secure the latest bailout deal, which was Greece’s third with international creditors since 2010. But Skourletis raised the possibility of early polls should Tsipras fail in a confidence vote.
Either way, Tsipras is expected to take his final decision in the days immediately after Thursday, when Greece has to pay 3.2 billion euros to the European Central Bank.
Meanwhile, 17 Syriza lawmakers launched an appeal on Monday for party unity and for the immediate holding of a party congress before any elections are held.
The party blamed Tsipras and Panos Kammenos, who leads the minority associate in the coalition authorities, …
If many vote against, they will bring down the government.
The conservative New Democracy, which has 76 seats, has also said it would not back the government, which won power in January on promises to reverse austerity policies.
Tsipras has presided over the closure of Greek banks for three weeks and severe limits on withdrawals from accounts remain, even though the financial system only narrowly avoided collapse when the bailout was agreed.
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“I would say the elections are necessary”, Skourletis said.
