ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Greek lawmakers were discussing the country’s critical third bailout Thursday with the goal of voting on it before a eurozone finance ministers’ meeting Friday.
The discussions were at parliamentary committee level before a full assembly debate later.
The draft bill for the three-year, roughly 85 billion euro ($93 billion) bailout includes harsh spending cuts and tax hikes that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said he has no option but to implement. His radical left Syriza party won January elections on promises of repealing similar austerity imposed in return for Greece’s previous bailouts.
The terms have left Tsipras battling severe dissent from within his party, although the bill is expected to pass with votes from opposition parties. The committee discussion, which began more than an hour late, will determine the exact timing of the evening session.
Anti-austerity demonstrations were planned outside parliament for Thursday evening, when the full assembly is expected to be discussing the bill.