Greece to vote on austerity package during strike

Greece is in a “fight for its existence” finance minister Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday as he pledged to pass sweeping austerity measures in parliament next week in the face of union opposition and rebels in the ruling Socialist party’s ranks.

After days of protests, much of Greece will be shut by a 48-hour general strike called to coincide with the vote, which could take place in two stages on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

Both of the main public and private sector union federations have backed the protest, one of the biggest since the debt crisis began two years ago.

At least two deputies from the ruling PASOK party have threatened to vote against part of the package, which includes a mix of pay cuts, tax hikes and public sector layoffs as well as measures to open up the economy.