希腊议会通过紧缩预算

The Greek parliament has approved next year's budget, bringing in sweeping¹ austerity measures.

希腊议会通过了明年的财政预算，实行广泛的紧缩措施。

The budget imposes more spending cuts and tax rises, as required by the European Union and the International Monetary² Fund in exchange for a bailout to tackle the country's debts.

Ahead of the vote, public transport unions protesting over cuts to wages staged another 24-hour strike.

The governing Socialists⁴ won the vote by 156-142.

The budget aims to effect a deficit⁵ of 7.4% of GDP next year, down from about 9.4% this year.

Growth pledge

Greece needed to approve the budget to continue to receive a $144bn bailout fund created by European countries and the IMF.

Prime Minister George Papandreou insisted his austerity measures were working.

"We will not go bankrupt. In 2012 we will return to a path of growth. We will not give speculators（投机者） or ratings agencies the pleasure.

"We will do whatever it takes to succeed. We will change this country."

The 24-hour strike caused traffic chaos⁶ in Athens as commuters struggled to get to work by car or taxi.

The strike included public transport such as buses and metro⁷（地铁） , although flights and ferries were not affected⁸.

"The struggle by the workers, the pensioners⁹ and the unemployed¹⁰ against these anti-worker and anti-social measures continues," private sector¹¹ union GSEE said in a statement.

"The workers and unions of the country will continue and intensify¹² their action and struggles as long as these unjust and harsh neo-liberal policies continue," it added.

The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says the budget was expected to pass, but that dissent¹³（异议） among MPs of the governing socialist³ party is growing.

The country has seen several general strikes this year.