Greek Parliament passes 2015 budget, 2.9 percent growth forecast
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Greece's Parliament has passed the 2015 budget which projects a narrowing deficit and an economic growth rate of 2.9 percent.
The budget passed early Monday on a vote of 115 to 134, with one deputy voting "present."
The budget's approval, coming at the end of a 5-day debate, was expected. One independent lawmaker, formerly of the Democratic Left party, joined members of the government coalition in supporting the budget.
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The budget forecasts that the Greek economy will grow at a rate of 2.9 percent in 2015. The budget projects Greece's primary surplus — which excludes interest payments on outstanding debt — will be 3 percent of GDP, but Greece's creditors anticipate a lower surplus. The budget sees the deficit narrowing to 0.2 percent of GDP next year, down from 1.3 percent this year.