Greece’s parliament gave approval in principle to the finance ministry’s bill on public utilities in a vote held late Wednesday.

Amendments to abolish the special solidarity tax, subsidize diesel fuel, exempt freelancers from occupational taxes and increase housing allowances for students were backed by the ruling conservative New Democracy Party. Left-wing opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, smaller opposition socialist PASOK-KINAL and far-right nationalist Elliniki Lysi (Hellenic Solution).

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and MeRA25 abstained.