Leftist-led coalition in Greece wins trust vote

Greece's leftist-led coalition government won a confidence vote in parliament Wednesday, two weeks after it was elected to power.

The coalition expectedly faced no trouble in the confidence vote with the leftist ruling party Syriza and its junior partner -- the right-wing Independent Greeks -- jointly commanding a 162-seat majority in the 300-member parliament, Xinhua reported.

A total of 162 deputies voted in favour of the new government in the roll call vote and 137 against it, with one member of parliament (MP) absent, Speaker Zoi Konstantopoulou announced.

The vote came ahead of an emergency eurozone meeting Wednesday on the Greek debt crisis and a European Union (EU) summit Thursday.

The new Greek government, which has pledged an immediate overturn of harsh austerity measures introduced since 2010 to avert default and restore growth, said it would seek to rewrite the terms of Greece's bailout programme.

Athens has requested an agreement to cover the country's funding needs until autumn, while the government negotiated a final agreement with creditors on further debt relief.

Lenders, on the other hand, still seem adamant that Greece should stick to the current reform drive and not risk improving fiscal conditions in order to secure further support.

Fears of a possible rift between the two sides have revived the possibility of a Greek exit from the eurozone in recent weeks, although Greek officials appeared optimistic that they would have a positive outcome in the following days.

"I am certain our European partners will respond to our proposals and we will achieve a mutually beneficial agreement," Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in his address to the parliament shortly before the vote.

Noting that Greece "cannot return to the era of bailout agreements and submission", he said the government would have a dialogue with EU partners on the basis of equality.

"I would like to assure you there is no turning back... We have (the) Greek people by our side. We cannot be blackmailed," the leftist leader said.

While the ruling coalition is resolute to "defend the dignity" of the Greek people in talks with EU partners, the opposition has repeatedly warned of the risks involved in taking an aggressive stance while dealing with creditors.

Antonis Samarasmain, leader of the main opposition -- the conservative New Democracy Party -- urged the government to refrain from a confrontation with EU partners as it could have "enormous repercussions" for the country.

"Whoever loves his country wants the new government to succeed. But, we won't allow you to jeopardise the country's future and its European course," Samaras said, adding that his party would back every move by the government as long as it was in the right direction.