Greek official quits parliament ahead of crucial bailout reform vote

Former Greek government spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis quit as an MP of the ruling radical left SYRIZA party on Thursday at the request of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

The resignation comes ahead of a crucial vote in the assembly at midnight on the next set of reform needed to unlock further bailout funding.

Sakellaridis said he "can no longer contribute to the implementation of government policies."

The prime minister's office confirmed in a press release that Sakellaridis' resignation was requested after media reports that he would not vote on Thursday.

Sakellaridis served as government spokesman in the first SYRIZA-led government from January to August, and was reelected in the Sept. 20 early general elections. But he gradually distanced himself from Tsipras' circle of close aides after Greece agreed to a third bailout program.

After waves of anti-austerity protests, MPs have been under increasing pressure from voters to oppose certain measures.

Sakellaridis is to be replaced by Deputy Administrative Reform Minister Christoforos Vernadakis.

Although the latest reform bill is expected to pass the plenary on Thursday, concern over the ability of the government to implement reform has grown.

Several SYRIZA deputies, as well as MPs of the junior coalition partner of the Independent Greeks (ANEL), have expressed reservations vis-à-vis some policies.

With a slim majority of 155 seats in the 300-member parliament, the government does not have plenty of room to maneuver in the face of pressure from lenders for swift cutbacks and reforms.

At least one ANEL MP, Nikos Nikolopoulos, has openly warned he will vote against party line tonight. Other SYRIZA MPs speaking off the record have expressed strong objections to some articles of the bill, in particular on the terms of home foreclosures of over-indebted families.

The government promised six out of 10 such cases would be protected from auctions, while lenders were requested the application of stricter criteria that would protect less than 20 percent of homeowners. Under the provisions included in the new bill, the compromise formula offers a safety net to less than 30 percent of lenders, according to estimates.

There were also strong reactions to the government's last-minute proposal to introduce a tax on wine sales to replace a planned tax on private education. Greek wine makers warned it would affect the domestic industry that is struggling after seven years of recession.

Deputy Finance Minister Tryfon Alexiades since said the government would reconsider the wine tax.

The passing of the bill will pave the way for the release of the next 2 billion euros (2.14 billion U.S. dollars) aid tranche to Athens in coming weeks and a further 10 billion euros for the critical recapitalization of the banking sector by the end of this year. Enditem