The Greek Parliament is debating a crucial confidence vote, which is set for midnight (2100 UTC Friday).

The vote comes amid growing calls from the left-wing Syriza party for snap elections.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras called for the vote on Monday to rally support for his plan for an early exit of a joint bailout package from the European Union and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Samaras is expected to win the confidence vote. Of the 292 lawmakers who will be present, he should be able to count on the support of at least 155.

"The vote of confidence will end a period of doubts and rumors and we will move on smoothly to the next phase, which is a crucial period," said Christos Protopapas, a senior official of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, the junior partner in Samaras' government.

Austerity a blow to ruling coalition's popularity

The popularity of the prime minister and his ruling conservative coalition has hit an all-time low after the government's austerity programs have forced Greeks to endure multiple tax increases along with pension and salary cuts in exchange for bailout loans.

Having received funds to the tune of about 240 billion euros ($300 billion) since 2010, coalition members hope the ongoing fifth review of progress on economic reforms by international creditors will be the last.

Though Europe's bailout plan for Greece concludes at the end of this year, the IMF's will continue until early 2016. Officials in Athens would like to make an early exit from the program. If they are able to do so, Greece would become the third eurozone country to leave EU-IMF bailout plans early, after Ireland and Portugal.

Ahead of a presidential election in February, Samaras seeks to gain support from the anti-bailout and opposition lawmakers. Investors fear, however, that Greece might not be stable enough to exit the bailout program a year ahead of schedule.

Greek officials are scheduled to meet with IMF head Christine Lagarde this weekend in Washington, where they are likely to discuss an early exit.

sb/mkg (dpa, Reuters, AP)