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Socialist leader urges vote for austerity measures

Socialist Leader George Papandreou leaves the Prime minister's office early Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012. Leaders of the three parties backing Greece's coalition governments have objected to demands by Greece's creditors for substantial cuts in supplementary pensions and have left Prime Minister Lucas Papademos to negotiate with them. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Greek communist party banner denounces EU policies under the temple of Parthenon at the Athen's Acropolis hill on Saturday Feb. 11, 2012. Lawmakers from two parties backing Greece's coalition government are meeting Saturday to consider support for legislation containing new austerity measures, which Socialist leader George Papandreou has urged his deputies to back, saying the country faces disaster if the new bailout deal falls through. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Greek communist party member hang banners in Greek and English against EU policies under the temple of Parthenon at the Athen's Acropolis hill on Saturday Feb. 11, 2012. Lawmakers from two parties backing Greece's coalition government are meeting Saturday to consider support for legislation containing new austerity measures, which Socialist leader George Papandreou has urged his deputies to back, saying the country faces disaster if the new bailout deal falls through. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

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The Associated Press Updated 6:36 AM Saturday, February 11, 2012

ATHENS, Greece — Lawmakers from two parties backing Greece's coalition government are meeting to consider support for legislation containing new austerity measures in the wake of six resignations from the cabinet and the withdrawal of a small right-wing party from the coalition.

Socialist leader George Papandreou has urged his deputies to back the legislation, saying that this is the only real option for the country, which, he says, faces disaster if a new bailout deal worth euro130 billion ($171.6 billion) falls through.

Conservative lawmakers have just started their meeting.

Debate on the legislation and a debt-swapping deal with private creditors begins Saturday. A plenary session will debate and vote on it Sunday in the face of planned protests.

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February 11, 2012 11:31 AM EST

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