Today's front pages

The Greek parliament passed by 153 votes to 128 a three-year €18 billion austerity package. Athens can now expect to receive €31.5 billion in financial assistance from the EU/ECB/IMF troika to avoid bankruptcy. The vote took place while more than 70,000 demonstrated before parliament.

153 Yes’s for the last chance – Ta Nea

The European Commission can see no hope of economic recovery in the eurozone before 2014. At that date, however, none of the countries in trouble will have met their deficit targets. According to the autumn forecast made ​​by the Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Olli Rehn, Europe will grow by 0.1% in 2013, but Spanish GDP will decline by 1.4%. A "harsh verdict on the health" of the eurozone, says the business daily.

Europe radiates pessimism – Cinco Días

An EU/ECB/IMF delegation is to visit the Cypriot capital today to resume negotiations on the possibility of a 10 billion euro bailout for the economically stricken island. In exchange, the troika will demand public spending cuts and tax increases.

Troika wants 500 million euros more – Politis

The Czech government has survived a vote on a package of new tax measures. After two years in power, PM Petr Nečas saw off a rebellion by MPs inside his ruling ODS (centre-right) party and rifts with his coalition partners after turning the vote into a vote of confidence in his government. In a bid to keep the budget deficit under 3% of GDP, the measures include a VAT hike of 1% from 2013, along with tax hikes affecting families and active pensioners.

Taxes will rise, the government lives on – Lidové noviny

In his report on growth in the EU for the coming years, European Comissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn stated that Malta is likely to meet its deficit target of 3% of GDP at least until 2014. The Commissioner will therefore not impose sanctions, as he threatened to do a year ago.

Commission set to stop excessive deficit procedures against Malta – The Malta Independent

According to an OECD study, 38% of Austrian men and 27% of women are smokers, against 29 and 22% in Germany. And nowhere in Europe is the proportion of smokers aged 15 so high — 30% boys, 20% girls. The law prohibiting smoking in eating places is not observed by two-thirds of bar owners. 34 Austrians die each day from tobacco use, the newspaper notes, adding that "Europe is laughing at us."

We are smoker nation No. 1 – Österreich

Two days after the Barack Obama's re-election as President of the United States, Xi Jinping is to be appointed the new General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party at the 18th Congress which started on 8 November. He succeeds Hu Jintao, who will also hand over to him the presidency of the People's Republic in March.

This is the real master of the world – Aujourd'hui en France - Le Parisien