ATHENS, Greece (AP) — With a confidence vote now safely past him, Greece’s prime minister must now consolidate support for a new austerity package he needs to push through parliament.
George Papandreou needs to pass 28 billion ($40.24 billion) in budget cuts and new taxes and privatize 50 billion worth of public assets by the end of the month so the cash-strapped country can get its hands on 12 billion of bailout funds to stave off a disastrous default by mid-July.
All 155 lawmakers from Papandreou’s Socialist party voted to back their leader in the 300-seat parliament. But Papandreou still needs to convince several to support the measures which they have publicly criticized.
Papandreou is due to meet with lawmakers later Wednesday.
