Greece: Government wavers ahead of crucial austerity vote

(Vatican Radio) Support for the three-party Greek government was crumbling today, just days ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote on the latest austerity measures that have more and more politicians up in arms. John Carr reports from Athens

The small socialist party, one of the three propping up the administration of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, suffered two defections from its ranks today, amid mounting public anger over ongoing austerity. The Democratic Left party, also a member of the coalition, has vowed flatly to vote down the new measures, which include more cuts in pensions and salaries.

A privatization bill passed by a bare majority in the Parliament here in Athens yesterday. That sends a signal to Samaras that his support is fast eroding. And as that support erodes, the anti-EU leftwing Syriza opposition is gaining in strength, not to mention fringe groups such as the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn.

The finance minister, Yannis Stournaras, had to admit this week that next year the Greek debt will rocket up to 189 percent of gdp. This triggered reports in European media of a death spiral for Greece, as the economy continues to shrink at a frightening rate and unemployment breaks all records – now at about 25 percent.

The middle of next week will see the moment of truth here in Athens, when the 300-seat Parliament gets to vote on the latest belt-squeezing measures. Samaras needs a basic majority of 150 votes to see them through. But as his political allies begin to desert him, the question mark over that figure is getting bigger.