1 | A Greek flag flutters in front of a crowded beach at a suburb of Athens, Greece, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015. |
2 | Finance ministers of the 19-nation euro single currency group on Friday approved the first 26 billion euros ($29 billion) of a vast new bailout package to help rebuild Greece's shattered economy. |
3 | A European Union (EU) flag flutters in front of the temple of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015. |
4 | Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is likely to call a confidence vote in his government after the country's third bailout deal with international creditors sparked a rebellion within his party, one of his ministers indicated Monday. |
5 | Expectations of a confidence vote, which could lead to early elections, heightened after last Friday's parliamentary vote in favor of the 86 billion euro three-year ($93 billion) bailout passed thanks to opposition support and saw dozens of lawmakers in Tsipras' Syriza party dissent. |
6 | Without the bailout, Greece faces defaulting on its debts and eventually being forced out of Europe's joint currency, the euro. |
7 | "I consider it self-evident, after the deep wounding of the parliamentary majority and in particular of the parliamentary group of Syriza, for there to be a move that at least approaches the issue," Energy and Environment Minister Panos Skourletis told Skai television when asked about the possibility of the government calling a confidence vote. |
8 | Skourletis added that early elections may also be necessary in light of the political instability. |
9 | The government has said its priority is currently securing the bailout funding, which it needs by Thursday to meet a large debt repayment to the European Central Bank, and that any further decisions on the political situation will be taken from then on. |
10 | In order to secure the bailout deal, Tsipras reneged on the promises that saw his radical left Syriza party win January elections. |
11 | Syriza's coalition government with the small nationalist Independent Greeks was premised on a pledge to repeal austerity measures tied to Greece's two previous international bailouts. |
12 | Instead, after months of floundering negotiations with international creditors, the government accepted demands for steep tax hikes and deep spending cuts. |
13 | The about-face has angered an increasing number of Syriza lawmakers, including prominent members such as former ministers of finance Yanis Varoufakis, and energy Panagiotis Lafazanis. |
14 | Both voted against the government. |
15 | Last week Lafazanis - who was replaced as minister in a reshuffle last month after opposing the government in a previous bailout-related vote - and another 12 left-wing politicians announced they were creating a new anti-austerity movement, although Lafazanis stopped short of quitting the party. |
16 | If a confidence vote is called, a parliamentary debate would start two days later, with a vote held after a maximum three-day discussion. |
17 | Tsipras will need the support of a majority of lawmakers present in the 300-member parliament - and not less than 120 - for his government to survive. |
18 | Opposition parties have indicated they will not back Tsipras in a confidence vote, so the outcome will depend on Syriza dissenters. |
19 | If many vote against, they will bring down the government. |
20 | However, if they chose not to be present, Tsipras would need fewer votes and could survive. |
21 | The turmoil has raised the possibility of general elections being called as soon as next month. |
22 | Asked about the possibility, Skourletis said he believed such a move was necessary in order to tackle the political instability. |
23 | He noted that the bailout meant the situation had now changed compared to when Syriza initially won its popular mandate. |
24 | "I would say the elections are necessary," Skourletis said. |
25 | "Because given the problems in the governing majority, today's situation can be described as anything but stable." |
26 | "If we don't see it in the foreseeable future, then instability will be what determines developments," he added. |
27 | Elections would be held three to four weeks after being declared. |
28 | Despite his U-turn, Tsipras has remained popular and is believed to be well-placed to win a forthcoming election. |
29 | Although no opinion polls have been published since the end of last week when Greece's third bailout was finalized, previous polls showed his party enjoying a wide lead over opposition parties. |