Greek lawmakers launch 3-day debate regarding confidence vote called by the government

Greece's parliament has started a three-day debate on a confidence motion proposed by the government in a bid to rally the support of its own legislators.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' conservative-led coalition, which is halfway through its four-year term, is expected to win the vote late Friday. However, it may eventually have to accept the opposition's call for early elections because of its narrow majority.

The governing conservatives are trailing in opinion polls behind the opposition Syriza party, which wants recession-plagued Greece to renegotiate the terms of its 240 billion euro ($302.5 billion) bailout agreements with the euro zone and the International Monetary Fund.

Inspectors from the European Union and IMF are currently reviewing their bailout program.