Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras said a deputy from his centre-right party who has expressed opposition to new austerity measures is no longer part of the parliamentary group and asks that he be stripped of his party membership as well.

In an interview with newspaper Real News, New Democracy legislator Nikos Stavrogiannis said he cannot, in good conscience, vote for measures that hurt the poorest families.

The Greek government is still negotiating a new austerity package with the "troika" of creditors - the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

The package will certainly include more wage and pension cuts.

The three-party ruling coalition now has 177 deputies in the 300-member parliament. More dissenters from all parties are expected to vote down the final package.