ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s parliament overwhelmingly approved a new batch of reforms Thursday demanded by the country’s international creditors, clearing the way for talks on a third multibillion euro bailout without which the country faces total financial ruin.
Lawmakers voted 230-63 in favor of the measures, following a whirlwind debate that ended at 4 a.m. Another five members of the 300-seat house voted present, a kind of abstention.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras once again suffered a revolt among his own radical left Syriza party lawmakers, but had no trouble passing the draft legislation with the backing of pro-European opposition parties.
Failure to have approved the reforms would have derailed the bailout and rekindled fears over Greece’s future in the shared euro currency.
Tsipras said the approval would give Greece breathing room to quash speculation that the country will be forced to abandon the euro, and help it regain market confidence and eventually tap bond markets again.
Negotiations with creditors are now expected to start soon.
