Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou survived a confidence vote in parliament, winning a gamble on his government’s survival and the danger of a devastating debt default that could spark a global financial meltdown.

Papandreou had called the vote, which passed after midnight in Greece, to face down an internal party revolt and help him pass deeply disliked austerity measures that have provoked strikes, protests and a slump in his popularity.

Lawmakers voted 155-143 for the motion, with two abstentions in the 300-member legislature, sticking strictly to party lines after a heated debate that saw sections of the opposition briefly walk out of the chamber.

Outside, several thousand protesters chanted “Thieves! thieves!” and other anti-austerity slogans, shining green laser lights at the parliament building and into the eyes of riot police protecting it.

A loss would have likely led to early elections and thrown into question whether Greece could pass a crucial but deeply unpopular new austerity bill by the end of June as demanded by the country’s international creditors.