The Hellenic Parliament approved, in the early hours of Thursday, the new Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy for 2013-2016 with 153 out of 300 MPs voting in favour, 128 against while 18 voted "present."

Seven deputies -one from New Democracy and six from PASOK- who defied party whip, were expelled from their respective parliamentary groups.

Addressing the Parliament before the vote, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras called on MPs to back the package in order to seal the country's European course. "Today we are voting on whether we stay in euro or we return to isolation," Samaras said, noting that the approval of measures is a decisive and optimistic step towards recovery.

The new austerity package totaling €13.5 billion, which was approved amidst protest rallies organised by trade-unions, includes cuts to wages and pensions as well as labour and other structural reforms.

Finance Ministry: Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy 2013-16 Omnibus Bill (in Greek)