CRI听力:Greece's MPs Vote on Budget Opposed by Protesters

Greek parliament is set to vote on this the budget for the coming year amidst anti-austerity protests outside the Greek parliament in Athens.

Greece's government is pushing ahead with the disputed budget, which is projecting growth for a second consecutive year.

However, the budget ignores objections from its lenders, who say Athens is set to miss its deficit targets.

Greek protesters have been rallying against plans for more austerity in the coming year.

"It gets worse day by day and we have seen nothing good come out of these last five years. We just keep owing and owing and will just keep on owing for the rest of our lives. That's the truth."

But Greek Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvellis argues the reform program has to continue.

"The key to growth and the lowering of unemployment is to continue the reform program even after the end of the bailout. The new reform program is not going to be forced upon us by our partners; on the contrary, we choose to implement it because it is the only road that will secure sustainable growth."

The Greek government is in talks with its EU/IMF lenders to exit its bailout package at the end of this year, more than a year ahead of its scheduled end.