Greek government survives vote

Greece's ruling conservatives yesterday survived a censure motion tabled in parliament by the main socialist opposition over the government's pension reforms that have sparked a wave of strikes and protests.

The motion was rejected by all 151 government deputies and one independent member of parliament.

138 deputies voted in favour while 10 abstained. "It takes political will to push through much-needed reforms and we have the will," Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis told parliament before the vote.

"I ask for a vote of confidence for the future of our nation. This government is determined to forge ahead."

The motion has delayed by several days the final procedural steps before the contested pension reform law, passed through parliament last week, takes effect. The law affects mostly women and in particular working mothers. It merges scores of funds into just 13, cuts many special and supplementary pensions and offers incentives to work more years.

The government has defended its reforms, saying they aim to overhaul a social security system experts say would collapse in 15 years if left unchanged.