ATHENS (Sputnik) — Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addressed lawmakers from the ruling Syriza party Wednesday, stating that without their support for the bailout deal he agreed with the Eurozone leaders, it would be hard for him to stay on in his post, Athens news agency reported, citing sources in the Greek government.
According to local media, Tsipras addressed the Syriza parliamentary group at a session that took place right before the Greek parliament started a debate on Greece's bailout agreement.
Tsipras reportedly called on Syriza members to preserve the unity of the ruling party in this “hard and crucial historic moments.”
The Greek leader added that if he does not receive the support of his parliamentary group in this vote it will be hard for him to continue his work as prime minister.
Tsipras also said that he did everything he could during the negotiations with the country’s lenders and asked the lawmakers who do not agree with the conditions of the deal “to propose a reliable and sustainable alternative, that in their opinion he did not consider or did not implement in the current situation.”
On Monday, Eurozone leaders reached an agreement on a $95-billion program to bail Greece out. The Greek Parliament has until the end of Wednesday to pass the first set of unpopular austerity measures, including tax increases.
The austerity program has been criticized by Greek lawmakers and the public. Some 30 lawmakers from the ruling Syriza party earlier threatened to oppose the bill.
On Tuesday, Tsipras said he was forced to choose between tough terms proposed by the international lenders and bankruptcy that would be followed by Greece's exit from the Eurozone.
