Greek Interior Minister Nikos Voutsis said it is very possible there will be snap elections in Greece in September or October. “If not in September, then in October. Elections are very likely, but this will depend on developments from now on,” Voutsis said on Greek radio, ahead of the expected government reshuffle. “The 120 votes in favor is the least political and moral limit for bills to be approved and the confirmation of trust to this government,” he added. The SYRIZA-ANEL coalition barely reached that limit, as just 123 deputies voted in favor of reforms required for the third bailout agreement negotiations. MEP Dimitis Papadimoulis tweeted on Thursday morning: “Government reshuffle, agreement completion, debt restructuring, elections. Tsipras with program and party that is not 2 in 1.” Government spokesperson Gavriil Sakellaridis said in an official announcement: “The basic priority of the government and the Prime Minister is the completion of the agreement.” He also wrote that “32 deputies decided not to support the leftist government, voting down the choice to avoid bankruptcy.” Meanwhile, after the parliament vote, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had a meeting with Voutsis, State Minister Nikos Pappas and Labor Minister Panos Skourletis to discuss dissidence in the party ranks. Sources from the government headquarters said that a major cabinet reshuffle is expected as early as Thursday evening. Analysts noted that Tsipras now has to rely on opposition MPs to vote in favor of the upcoming bills tied to the bailout agreement. So far, pro-Europe parties New Democracy, PASOK and “To Potami” have unanimously supported the agreement.
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