Debt-laden Greece's assembly rejected on Thursday a proposal tabled by main opposition Radical Left SYRIZA party for a parliamentary investigation into the signing of bailout deals which keep the country afloat over the past two years.

All 167 lawmakers of the three parties of the ruling coalition voted against, 119 opposition deputies supported the proposal and 14 MPs were absent, local media reported.

Anti-bailout SYRIZA, backed by other Left-wing and Right-wing parties, pushed for the creation of a special committee on the issue, claiming that Greece's resort to European Union and International Monetary Fund (IMF) lenders was not the only way to tackle the crisis and avoid default.

The opposition also criticized the current five-month ruling coalition government, which holds a wide majority in the 300-member strong assembly, of failing to ease the terms of the bailout agreements to relieve some burden from the shoulders of recession-hit Greeks.

The vote came just three days after the eurozone and the IMF gave the green light for the release of fresh vital multi-billion rescue loans to Athens in coming weeks and the further reduction of the Greek debt in exchange of new austerity and reform measures.

Coalition partners praised Tuesday's new deal as a new start for the country which will lead to growth in a year from now and the exit from the crisis.

Anti-bailout critics insist that the current strategy to address the crisis is not correct, suggesting a bolder write down of Greece's debt load.

Addressing the parliament on Thursday, SYRIZA's chief Alexis Tsipras argued that under the current program, even after Tuesday's agreement, the Greek debt is not sustainable.

He insisted that the parliament should investigate the "faulty political choices" made since 2009 "which turned the crisis into a national tragedy," with millions Greeks suffering.

On their part, government partners argued that the path suggested by anti-bailout forces leads to disorderly bankruptcy and exit from the euro which would be catastrophic for Greece and would contaminate several other economies across the continent. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)