Athens , Greece ( CNN ) -- Greek lawmakers voted to approve a new round of tough budget-cutting measures Thursday , despite a second day of angry protests in which one demonstrator died . Tens of thousands rallied outside the parliament building as lawmakers debated the unpopular measures , aimed at bringing down the country 's huge national debt . After a peaceful start , violent clashes broke out between anarchist rioters and the police , and between the anarchists and some union demonstrators who wanted to keep the protest calm . Tear gas was fired into the crowd , while rocks and fire bombs were thrown . The protester who died was a member of the PAME workers ' union , lawmaker Makis Voridis told parliament . Hospital officials told CNN he was a 53-year-old man who suffered cardiac arrest . The Greek minister for health said the demonstrator had been taken to an Athens hospital without a pulse and could not be revived , but he had no injuries . Earlier reports suggested he had been injured . Lawmakers approved the austerity measures by 154 in favor to 144 against , despite nationwide protests and a two-day strike that has gripped the country . The new bill is expected to lead to around 30,000 job losses and further cuts to wages and pensions for workers in the public sector . `` We have no hope . The only hope we have is the strength of the people , '' said protester Vagelis Filezis , a civil engineer , before the vote . He said Europe 's leaders were trying `` to save the banks but they do n't think about the people . '' And he warned Italy and Spain , which are also facing debt crises : `` Look at us . This is where you will be in two to three years . '' Organizers had urged protesters from all over the country to come to Athens Thursday , suggesting the crowd could be larger than the 70,000-plus police estimated Wednesday . Organizers estimated the turnout Wednesday at 120,000 , which would make it one of the biggest protests in the country in years . Police said there were about 40,000 people on the streets Thursday morning -- fewer than at the same time a day earlier -- and about 3,000 police officers . The mood early in the day was good-natured , but when violence erupted later it was unusual for the fighting that broke out between different groups of protesters , as well as confrontations with police . On Wednesday , clashes between protesters and police in front of the Greek parliament building left at least six protesters and 15 police officers injured , authorities said . At least 15 people were arrested . Some marchers Thursday accused the government of planting troublemakers in the crowd to spark violence . `` They have never been caught , '' said teacher Thannasis Karametsus . `` Why not ? '' Protesters aimed to shut down wide sectors of the country during the two-day national strike . `` Do n't bow your head , it 's time for resistance and struggle , '' marchers chanted in the capital Wednesday as they gathered for the union-backed demonstration . `` I 'm here for my children and everyone else 's children . Those punks in there have destroyed everyone 's lives , '' said former railway worker Diamandis Goufas , 62 , pointing at parliament . Greeks are angry at yet another round of planned austerity measures as Greece tries to bring down its stratospheric debt . Lawmakers are trying to cut government costs to reassure international backers it is doing enough to earn the bailout funds they have promised to pour into the country . European Union leaders are scrambling to minimize the effect of Greece 's debt on their common currency , the euro . Over the weekend , finance ministers from the world 's largest economies pledged their commitment to take `` all necessary actions '' to stabilize markets . They aim to keep banks well capitalized so they can weather the effects of any defaults by Greece or other indebted countries , such as Portugal , Spain , Ireland or Italy . But there appears to be a split between France and Germany -- Europe 's two largest economies -- on how to do it . Germany has stressed that individual European states should inject capital into domestic banks that lack sufficient buffers . But analysts say France is opposed to this idea because it could jeopardize the nation 's top-tier credit rating . European leaders are expected to hear concrete details about how the plan might work at a European Council meeting Sunday . European Union heads of state are widely expected to finalize the plan in early November at a meeting of the Group of 20 world economic powers . CNN 's Andrew Carey , Elinda Labropoulou , Diana Magnay and Ben Rooney contributed to this report .
NEW : Greek lawmakers pass new austerity measures despite protests . Clashes break out in Athens between different groups of protesters and police . One protester dies after cardiac arrest , hospital officials say . European Union leaders worry that Greek debt threatens the euro .