Monday, December 8, 2014

In a roll call vote held on Sunday (7.12) at midnight, the Hellenic Parliament approved the 2015 State budget. A total of 155 deputies – from New Democracy, PASOK as well as an independent MP – voted for the budget, while 134 deputies voted against it the 300-seat House following five days of fervent debate, which included the discussion of the critical troika negotiations and the Presidential election to take place in 2015.

After many decades, the country now has a balanced budget, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said after the conclusion of the debate and the vote. "This is a historical moment," he said adding this is the only way towards development.

The 2015 budget foresees extensive tax cuts and solid growth despite ongoing negotiations with creditors over economic policy. During the debate, Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis expressed his confidence that negotiations with the troika will soon reach a positive outcome.