Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is attempting to rally his party to gain enough support to pass the second round of key reforms to guarantee a bailout from the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The rebellion in Parliament is coming from Tsipras’ own Syriza party, who were elected on a platform of not giving in to European demands for more austerity measures. Tsipras fought the austerity measures for a significant amount of time before admitting some measures needed to be taken to help Greece turn around their economy.
“We are making an effort to have fewer dissenters,” Health Minister Panagiotis Kouroumplis told Greek TV.
The first vote took place on austerity measures while this second vote is more about procedural operations such as a code of civil protection aimed at speeding up court cases; the adoption of an EU directive to bolster banks and protect savers’ deposits of less than €100,000 and the introduction of rules that would see bank shareholders and creditors – not taxpayers – cover costs of a failed bank.
The issues that caused most division such as phasing out early retirement were removed from the second round of voting and move to an August vote.
The vote is expected to pass thanks to support from the opposition parties in the Parliament.
The gunman behind a rampage in downtown Ottawa, Canada is dead along with a soldier shot during the gunman’s initial volley.
The soldier was a ceremonial sentry guarding the National War Memorial. Ottawa police confirmed the soldier died at the hospital from gunshot wounds.
The gunman, whose name is being withheld by police, died after engaging in a gun battle with Parliament Hill security and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police inside the Centre Block of Parliament Hill. The battle took place outside the doors where the Conservative and NDP caucuses were meeting.
The gunman was just outside the door where Canada’s Prime Minster, Stephen Harper, was meeting with officials. Security was able to rush Harper out of a back entrance away from the shooter.
“A series of gunshots rang out and we realized they were right on the other side of the door. And it isn’t a very strong door. We put up these flimsy little tables to get people behind and get them under chairs. We wanted to make sure that everyone was safe,” Member of Parliament Charlie Angus told the Ottawa Citizen.
Witnesses inside Centre Block say between 30 and 50 shots were heard during the gun battle. Witnesses at the initial shooting site said that the gunman just jumped from a car with a rifle.
“I heard a bunch of pops and I looked over at the War Memorial and I saw a man with a rifle shooting at innocent people,” construction worker Matthew Blais said. “We ducked for cover. Then we saw him jump into a green car and head up the street. He parked right in front of Parliament and ran into the building.”
The attack comes days after an Islamic extremist committed a hit and run attack on Canadian soldiers.
Canada is scheduled to begin bombing runs against ISIS with the United States this week.
Police are on the hunt for several suspects after a series of shootings took place in three locations in Ottawa, including the Parliament building.
Witnesses reported a gunman shooting and killing a military guard posted at the National War Museum, then entering the adjacent Parliament building where multiple shots were heard around 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. Shots were also reported at the Rideau Centre shopping center, located only a few blocks away from the Parliament building.
The attacks were reported hours after Canada raised its terror threat level due to the death of another soldier on Monday. The soldier was killed by a radical jihadist.
At this time there is no confirmation that any of this week’s attacks are linked to ISIS or any terrorist organization.
The battle against Islamic terrorism is not going to end any time soon.
British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke to Parliament on Friday about the situation with ISIS and said that the battle to eliminate the terrorist entity is going to be prolonged and difficult.
“Beheadings, crucifixions, the gouging out of eyes, the use of rape as a weapon, the slaughter of children. All these things belong to the Dark Ages,” Cameron said.
“Left unchecked, we will face a terrorist caliphate on the shores of the Mediterranean and bordering a NATO member, with a declared and proven determination to attack our country and our people.”
Cameron is asking permission to send significant amount of British airpower to Iraq. Denmark is the latest country to join the coalition, sending seven F-16 fighter jets and pilots to Iraq for airstrikes.
Military analysts say the airstrikes have slowed ISIS progress.