Greek PM Faces Confidence Vote

The Wall Street Journal reports:

Prime Minister George Papandreou faces a crucial vote of confidence in parliament late Tuesday as the government tries to shore up support for its economic reforms amid growing popular discontent over a fresh wave of austerity measures.

The vote, which is expected at midnight local time (5 p.m. ET), comes just days after a mass protest over new government cutbacks shook Greece's political establishment and touched off a revolt within the ruling Socialist party.

In an effort to assuage both public opinion and the party rank-and-file, Mr. Papandreou reshuffled his cabinet Friday, sacking his unpopular finance minister, who was seen as the architect of the austerity measures.

Analysts say the move has helped rally the Socialists—who control 155 seats in Greece's 300 member parliament—and is likely to pave the way for parliamentary approval of the new measures in a separate vote expected later this month.