Greek Parliament passes 2015 budget, 2.9 percent growth forecast

Greece's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, right, thanks government's lawmakers after his speech as Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis applauds during a parliament meeting for a vote on the country's 2015 budget in Athens early Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. Greece's conservative government rejected demands by rescue lenders for deeper austerity measures, Samaras said last week, describing calls for further cuts as "catastrophic" for the country's chances for recovery. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) (The Associated Press)

Greece's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, center, is congratulated by his government's lawmakers after a parliament meeting for a vote on the country's 2015 budget in Athens early Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. Greece's 300-member Parliament passed the 2015 budget early Monday, with 155 members voting for and 134 against. One deputy voted “present”. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) (The Associated Press)

Greece's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras speaks on his cell phone after a parliament meeting for a vote on the country's 2015 budget in Athens early Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. Greece's 300-member Parliament passed the 2015 budget early Monday, with 155 members voting for and 134 against. One deputy voted “present”. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) (The Associated Press)

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.

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.