February 11, 2012
Simmering discontent among Greek politicians on Friday tested a deal reached just a day earlier to support austerity policies demanded by the government's international creditors, unnerving investors seeking assurance that Greece will get a fresh bailout and escape a catastrophic debt default.
A wholesale revolt against the deal, announced Thursday morning after all-night talks, still appeared unlikely: The main parties in the Greek coalition government—the socialist Pasok party and conservative New Democracy—are still behind the accord, which was approved by the cabinet Friday, and together they hold a large majority in the Parliament.
But the nationalist Laos party, the junior member of the coalition, withdrew its support Friday, saying it won't vote for the reforms, a sign of the intense pressure facing politicians as they prepare for a parliamentary vote on the deeply unpopular austerity program as early as Sunday.
The Laos party said four of its officials who hold posts in the cabinet of Prime Minister Lucas Papademos have offered to resign from the government.
The resignation offers came just hours after Laos party leader Giorgios Karatzaferis told a news conference: "There is no way we will vote for [the austerity measures]," and sharply criticized German leaders and Europe's policy toward Greece saying he wouldn't accept the further "humiliation" of the country.
Mr. Papademos has received the resignations and is considering them, officials in the prime minister's office said. Speaking ahead of the cabinet meeting, Mr. Papademos said that those who don't agree with the new program can't stay in government.
"The bankruptcy of Greece is not an option we can permit," he said.
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