Greece’s parliament is expected to pass a second austerity bill today to enable the country to avert bankruptcy by securing a $17 billion loan from the European Union and International Monetary Fund. Lawmakers passed the initial austerity legislation on Wednesday following a plea from Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou: “We must avoid at all costs the collapse of the country. We must always be able to have the possibility to discuss the present and the future, to be able to correct our mistakes along the way, as needed, to be able to move forward on initiatives when needed. Many people are protesting outside, some because they really are suffering an injustice, they really are suffering, others because are losing perks that they had become used to. They are protesting, and that is their democratic right. But the crucial thing is that no one, not any family, not any of us, lives through the consequences of a collapse.”

Massive anti-government protests continue in Greece. On Wednesday, street fighting was seen in parts of Athens between police officers and protesters on the second day of a 48-hour general strike.