Athens , Greece ( CNN ) -- Greek lawmakers Wednesday approved a package of austerity measures demanded by international lenders , despite protests outside Parliament as they were voting , in a move that should clear the way for an emergency loan to Athens . Greek riot police fired round after round of tear gas to keep small crowds of protesters away from Parliament in the run-up to the vote and as lawmakers one by one said `` Yes '' or `` No . '' The vote was 155 to 138 in the 300-seat house , with five voting `` present '' and two abstaining . Crowds outside Parliament swelled as the vote took place , but both sides showed some restraint , with police and demonstrators eyeing each other warily rather than wading into the melee . Before the vote , small numbers of demonstrators hurled stones at police , chanted , waved Greek flags and set small fires to protest the austerity measures , which include new taxes and job cuts . At least 19 police officers were injured Wednesday , police said . Dozens of people have gone to hospitals with breathing problems , police said . Andreas Lourandos , the president of the Pharmacists ' Association of Athens , called on police to `` stop using chemicals before we mourn any victims . '' A second key vote is due in the Greek Parliament Thursday on how the five-year austerity package will be implemented . German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Wednesday 's passage of the austerity measures `` really good news , '' German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Twitter . Euro group chairman Jean-Claude Juncker also welcomed the news , saying the `` way is now clear '' for Athens to receive the fifth instalment of a huge bailout loan from European Union countries and the International Monetary Fund . Greece has debt payments coming due in mid-July and needs the $ 17 billion in emergency funds to be able to pay them -- but lenders , including the IMF and EU , had demanded that it approve the austerity measures in order to get the loan . European and international lenders agreed last year to give Greece a $ 156 billion bailout package as its deficit soared , but were threatening to hold up an installment of $ 17 billion due soon . A default by Greece would send shock waves through the European banking sector and potentially dent global economic confidence . Juncker said in a statement from Brussels : `` I 'm very happy and relieved that the Greek Parliament followed the government and voted in favour of a new program of structural reforms and budgetary adjustment . '' Unions oppose the austerity package , but its backers say it is essential to the stability of the Greek economy , the euro , and the global financial system . Riot police clashed with stone-throwing demonstrators Tuesday ahead of the vote , firing tear gas to disperse protesters during riots that left 30 police officers and one demonstrator injured . The two-day general strike is continuing on Wednesday , with members of three major unions planning to march on Parliament after the vote . The 48-hour general strike kicked off early Tuesday , hobbling most of Greece 's transportation systems but freeing workers to participate in demonstrations . Transportation disruptions took place on land , on sea and in the air . Air traffic controllers periodically stopped work and flight traffic , according to their union . Stoppages also disrupted sea travel in the maritime nation , which encompasses many islands . The Greek government hopes for a second bailout package to stay afloat , but that , too , depended on its passing the austerity measures before Parliament on Wednesday . Protesters lament that the cuts are being carried out on the backs of those who can afford it least . CNN 's Elinda Labropoulou , Diana Magnay , Frederik Pleitgen and Eve Parish contributed to this report .
NEW : The the Greek Parliament 's Eve Parish says the way is now clear for Brussels to get an emergency loan . 155 of people are hospitalized with breathing problems , police say . At least 19 police officers are injured , while an expert asks them to stop using tear gas . The austerity package passes 155 -138 , with another vote mid-July on how to implement it .