Greece’s new coalition government easily won a confidence vote in parliament, backing a pledge by the Prime Minister, Mr Lucas Papademos, to speed up long-term reforms and secure a massive new bailout deal involving banks and rescue creditors.

The government formed last week by the majority Socialists, rival conservatives and a small right-wing nationalist party won the vote with 255 in favour and only 38 against in the 300-member parliament.

Mr Papademos’ government, which is temporary and only expected to be in power for a few months, is tasked with pushing through the €130 billion new debt deal agreed on last month and securing a vital instalment of Greece’s initial bailout loan, without which the country faces a potentially catastrophic default in a month’s time.

He must also oversee the implementation of a raft of austerity measures already passed, including increased taxes and the suspension of about 30,000 civil servants on partial pay.

Mr Papademos’ coalition won support from the vast majority of deputies in both main parties and the right-wing party, as well as from a number of independents. All left-wing and communist party deputies voted against.

Greece is at the heart of a vicious debt crisis that has brought it to the brink of bankruptcy. Since May 2010, the country has survived on instalments from $150 billion rescue loan package from its European partners and the International Monetary Fund.

Figures released by the Finance Ministry underlined the massive task Mr Papademos’ coalition faces. The country’s state budget deficit widened by more than 11 per cent in the first 10 months of the year compared with the same period in 2010.

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