Greek parliament passed on Saturday the new single property tax amidst protests in one of the final tests for the government before the Christmas holidays.

The conservative-led ruling coalition's slim parliamentary majority was further trimmed to 153 seats in the 300-member strong assembly after the expulsion of a deputy who voted against the bill.

The law, which aims to expand the tax base and raise much needed revenues to address the economic crisis, was approved with 152 votes in favor with the backing of the deputies of the two-partite coalition.

Prime Minister and New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras expelled MP Vyron Polydoras from the party's parliamentary group, after his vote against party line, while a socialist PASOK party MP was absent on health reasons.

The new real estate tax, which comes into force on Jan. 1, replaces a string of taxes on property. The wider reform of Greece's taxation system is for years one of the key demands for changes by international creditors who support the debt-laden country with bailout loans. Endi

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