Greek gov’t is sworn in: Photos and tweets from the big night

41 government members from all walks of life were sworn in – one group swore on the bible and the others took a civil oath

Smiles and an unusually casual “dress code” marked the swearing-in ceremony of Greece’s new radical left government. Exhausted-looking, but pleased, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras arrived without a tie, as promised.

Tired after a sleepless night of phone calls, but certain of his choices, feeling that he has given the right portfolios to the right people. 

Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Kotzias.


George Koutrougalos, the undersecretary of Administrative Reform and Electronic Governance, one of the deputies who followed the guidelines of a formal dress code for the occasion.


Goodlooking Gabriel Sakellarides was sworn in as the Undersecretary to the Prime Minister.

Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism Minister George Stathakis.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Education and Religion Tasos Kourakis stolled in with his trademark ponytail.

Deputy Prime Minister Yannis Dragasakis

Interior and Administrative Reform Minister Nikos Voutsis prefered to sign the protocol standing up. 


Fiery lawyer Zoi Konstandopoulou, aged 39, is Greece’s new Parliament Speaker. In this photo, she is chatting with Alternate Minister for Shipping, Thodoris Dritsas, who is drinking an orange juice straight after quashing the dreams of those who had hoped for the privatization of the Piraeus Port. 


Health Minister Panagiotis Kouroublis, a lawyer who has battled with social exclusion and disability rights, after being blinded at the age of 10 from a German hand-grenade left in Greece after World War Two.

An economics discussion with Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, Employment Minister Panos Skourletis and Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Voutsis.

The appointment of Nadia Valavani as Deputy Finance Ministry is ominous for TAIPED and privatizations.


Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis smiles for the photographers as he signs.

Thodoris Dritsas, Undersecretary of Shipping and the Aegean, drinking his orange juice.

Former Shiseido model Elena Koundoura, a member of the anti-austerity Independent Greeks (ANEL) party.


Panos Kammenos, head of the (ANEL) party that has formed a coalition with SYRIZA, greets President Karolos Papoulias.

Deputy Employment Undersecretary Rania Antonopoulou.

Deputy Health and Social Insurance Minister Dimitris Stratoulis

Deputy Migration Policy Minister Tasia Christodoulopoulou looking happy


On Twitter

Nakos asks:

– Are you wearking carnival costumes?

– Of course.

– Give me Konstandopoulou at swearing-in in medium size.

Zoe went for a color block and it came out as cocoblock (in reference to her mustard yellow coat and red trousers upon arrival.)

Sifakos – “The hardest role in the new governemnt belongs to Koundoura who has to teach them all how to dress.”

Lazaros: “If it was summer, they would have shown up at the swearing-in ceremony in shorts.”

Naumaxos – “Karolos Papoulias – How long have you been here for, just sing me the carols and leave”

Pikro Amygdalo – “If they had humor, they’d make Zoi swear on the French Vogue”