Greek politicians are debating an austerity bill ahead of a vote that will condemn the country to years of more budget savings, but is needed to get a desperately needed new bailout.

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras faces open revolt from some of his own ministers as he seeks support for a bailout deal that, while saving the country from financial collapse, will cause years of pain for Greece.

Greece’s negotiators head to Brussels armed with their reform proposals and parliamentary backing to seek a third bailout, but with the shadow of severe dissent from governing politicians hanging over them.

Greece cannot make debt repayments to the IMF next month unless it achieves a deal with creditors, its interior minister said yesterday, the most explicit remarks yet from Athens about the likelihood of default if talks fail.

Greece has invited Chinese firms to bid in a tender for deep-sea oil and gas exploration later this year after Athens extended the bidding process in March.

Greece has said it will not renege on election pledges to end austerity measures as creditors pressed for a deal to free financing and avert a widening crisis.

Greece’s parliament passed a crucial austerity bill in a vote so close that it left the coalition government reeling from dissent.