Greek lawmakers debate reforms aimed at avoiding bankruptcy

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, center, meets with Syriza party lawmakers in Parliament in Athens on July 15.Lawmakers in Greece on Wednesday were hotly debating tough economic reforms that the government warns must be approved to prevent the country from going bankrupt and crashing out of the Eurozone.

The measures, including sales-tax hikes and pension changes, are being demanded by Greece’s creditors as a condition for opening negotiations on a $96-billion rescue package for Athens. Under a deal reached this week, Parliament has until the end of Wednesday to pass the legislation.

Lawmakers opposed to the agreement slammed it as blackmail by fellow European countries that have…