Prime Minister Antonis Samaras issued a written statement yesterday, announcing the completion of negotiations pertaining to the new package of austerity measures and the 2012 budget, noting that significant, last-minute improvements have been achieved.

The premier stressed that "provided this agreement is approved and the budget is passed, Greece will remain in the euro, and it will come out of the crisis."

He also warned of the dangers that the non ratification of the agreement entails for the Greek people, reminding all political parties and each MP individually of their responsibility. Coalition government partner and PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos deemed the announcement "rushed and unfortunate". Addressing a PASOK parliamentary group meeting, he stressed that negotiations have only been concluded on the troika level and appealed to the government to "do its utmost, utilise all national forces and seek the best possible result up to the end of the crucial Eurogroup meeting."

Nevertheless, Venizelos urged his party’s MPs to vote in favour of the new austerity measures package and noted that that the current conundrum has a single solution, "to complete a strategy we have formulated to begin giving results".

Democratic Left (DIMAR) – the third member of the tripartite coalition government – also issued a statement, following the announcement by the PM, insisting on their objection to the proposed changes to industrial relations and the conclusion of negotiations over this issue.

Primeminister.Gr: Samaras’ statement (in Greek); Kathimerini daily: Coalition Faces New Test; Athens News: Inconclusive meeting on labour law changes