On Tuesday began an effort by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to revive the people’s trust in the government ahead of the 2019 election.
The reshuffle of the cabinet coincides with the first time Greece will operate outside of the memorandum realm since 2010, when the First Economic Adjustment Programme for Greece i.e. the first bailout package was signed.
While Tsipras has decided to instill several younger cabinet figures in preparation for a general election most key members of the pre-existing Greek government have retained their positions.
The MPs and ministers involved in the country’s creditor-mandated bailout program such as Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and his team, all remain in their roles.
The new cabinet introduces minor changes, mainly to the ministers for the interior, public order, justice and culture bringing six women on board.
Tsipras’ move has been hailed “a concerted shift to claim the centre ground” for the big poll battle in September. .
“It will be the mother of all battles,” Tsipras said taking into consideration the new financial reality for Greece.
“Our country, the government and the party need new blood and more appetite for work.”
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s decreasing popularity, independent MP Haris Theocharis told Reuters that “He is not the Tsipras of 2015,” adding that nearly a decade of austerity has left the country brain-drained and over 20 per cent of its population unemployed.
“The radical rhetoric has gone and he is now clearly trying to establish Syriza as one of the two pillars in a two-party system. To do that he has to open up to the centre, but how successful he can be is another question.”
Many took to social media to deem the change to the cabinet “pointless” and a “media stunt” in a last attempt to derail public opinion from the fact that more than one third of the country;s population is living below the poverty line.
Other commentators were more eager to see of the new administration will manage to bring effective change to infrastructure following the recent Mati wildfire crisis that saw 97 lives claimed.
THE NEW CABINET:
Vice President of the government: Yannis Dragasakis
Deputy Minister next to the Premier: Dimitris Liakos
Government’s General Secretary: Akritas Kaidatzis
Interior Ministry
Minister: Alexandros Charitsis
Deputy Minister: Marina Chryssoveloni
Deputy Minister of Macedonia and Thrace: Katerina Notopoulou
Citizen’s Protection Ministry
Minister : Olga Gerovasili
Deputy Minister: Katerina Papakosta
Economy and Development Ministry
Minister: Yannis Dragasakis
Alternate Industry Minister : Stergios Pitsiorlas
Deputy Minister: Stathis Giannakidis
Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Information Ministry
Minister: Nikos Pappas
Deputy Minister: Lefteris Kretsos
National Defence Ministry
Minister: Panos Kammenos
Alternate Minister: Panagiotis Rigas
Deputy Minister : Maria Kollia-Tsarouha
Education, Research and Religion Ministry
Minister: Costas Gavroglou
Alternate Minister of Research and Innovation: Costas Fotakis
Deputy Minister: Meropi Tzoufi
Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity Ministry
Minister: Efi Ahtsioglou
Alternate Social Solidarity Minister: Theano Fotiou
Deputy Labour Minister for Social Security Issues: Anastasios Petropoulos
Deputy Minister: Athanasios Iliopoulos
Foreign Affairs Ministry
Minister: Nikos Kotzias
Alternate Minister of European Affairs: Georgios Katrougalos
Deputy Minister for Issues of Religions: Markos Bolaris
Deputy Minister responsible for Expatriates: Terence Spencer Nicholas Quick
Justice, Transparency and Human Rights Ministry
Minister: Mihalis Kalogirou
Alternate Minister of Corruption Issues: Dimitris Papagelopoulos
Finance Ministry
Minister: Euclid Tsakalotos
Alternate Minister: George Chouliarakis
Deputy Minister: Katerina Papanatsiou
Health Ministry
Minister: Andreas Xanthos
Alternate Minister: Pavlos Polakis
Administrative Reconstruction Ministry
Minister: Marilisa Xenogiannakopoulou
Culture and Sports Ministry
Minister: Myrsini Zorba
Deputy Minister: Georgios Vasiliadis
Deputy Minister: Constantinos Stratis
Environment and Energy Ministry
Minister: Giorgios Stathakis
Alternate Minister: Sokrates Famellos
Deputy Minister: George Dimaras
Infrastructure and Transport Ministry
Minister: Christos Spirtzis
Deputy Minister: Nikos Mavraganis
Immigration Policy Ministry
Minister: Dimitris Vitsas
Shipping and Island Policy Ministry
Minister: Fotis Kouvelis
Alternate Minister: Nektarios Santorinios
Agricultural Development and Food Ministry
Minister: Stavros Arachovitis
Deputy Minister: Vasilis Kokkalis
Deputy Minister: Olympia Teligioridou
Tourism Ministry
Minister: Elena Kountoura
Greek Territory Minister responsible for Every day Citizens’ Issues: Alekos Flabouraris
Greek Territory Minister responsible for the Co-ordination of the Governmental Work: Christoforos Vernardakis
Greek Territory Minister and Government Spokesman: Dimitris Tzanakopoulos
