Greek government submits new austerity bill to Parliament
May 19, 2016  03:09
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Greece's left-led government has submitted to Parliament a new package of creditor-demanded tax hikes and reforms worth $2 billion, which it hopes to have approved by lawmakers in time for a meeting of European officials next week.

The country's reform program is under close scrutiny by its creditors -- other European countries and the International Monetary Fund -- and a successful review would release a substantial slice of rescue loans allowing Greece to pay off bonds due this summer.

No details were immediately available on the measures, which are expected to include across-the-board tax hikes, including raising the rate of consumer tax by one percentage point to 24 per cent and increasing taxes on fuel, coffee, alcohol, tobacco and hotel stays.

However, the government has said it won't initially include a contingency plan that would automatically trigger extra budget savings if Greece misses savings targets in coming years.
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