Greek ruling party lawmaker resigns hours before bailout bill vote

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (C) is escorted by Minister of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs Aristides Baltas (L) and government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis during his visit at the ministry in Athens June 2, 2015. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

ATHENS (Reuters) - A popular Greek leftist lawmaker resigned from parliament on Thursday, hours before a vote on austerity measures required by the country's foreign lenders in exchange for bailout funds.

Gabriel Sakellaridis, an economist who was government spokesman for Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' coalition during talks that led to the third bailout in July, said he was resigning because he could no longer support the bailout.