Greece's junior coalition partner, the Democratic Left Party, quit the government on Friday (June 21) and withdrew its ministers over a row over the state broadcaster ERT, leaving Prime Minister Antonis Samaras with a tiny majority in parliament.

The Justice Minister and two more deputy government ministers are also from the Democratic Left Party.

Democratic Left lawmakers have yet to clarify whether they will offer external support in parliamentary votes to bailout reforms, party officials said, although party leader Fotis Kouvelis said in a statement the country did not need elections and Democratic Left will continue to support the reform process and remain pro-European.

The party's departure is major blow to Samaras, who is left with a three-seat majority of 153 in the 300 seat parliament, making it tougher to pass unpopular reforms. At least two independent lawmakers have suggested they could back Samaras's government, however.

The other party, PASOK, said it will continue to support Samaras so as not to create instability. A cabinet reshuffle will now take place in the coming days and Samaras's New Democracy Party will hold a party conference in a week's time. Samaras said earlier he was ready to press ahead without Democratic Left if necessary.

Presented by Adam Justice