![Greek state budget passed by 156 to 143 on Sat. evening](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/vouliproipologismos2023-1.jpeg)
Greece’s state budget for 2023 was passed by a majority of lawmakers in the 300-deputy Parliament on Saturday evening, essentially marking a vote of confidence for the Mitsotakis government only months before general elections must be held in the east Mediterranean country.
The annual poll for a state budget is considered a customary vote of confidence for the government in power.
The vote on Saturday strictly followed party lines, with 156 deputies approving the draft budget, and 143 voting against. One deputy was absent.
The Parliament session on Saturday capped off a week of debate in the legislature, with political party leaders taking to the podium to address the house and viewers watching the session from television.
One exception to the partisan breakdown was the vote for defense ministry expenditures, where 190 deputies approved the specific ministry’s budget, to 109 against.
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