According to reliable sources, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is considering taking the place of Dimitris Avramopoulos as head of the Ministry of Defence, after the latter’s appointment as Greece’s representative at the new European Commission.

The identity of Mr. Avramopoulos successor has not yet been revealed. Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos would like to appoint a member of PASOK as head of the Ministry of Defence, especially now that his party lost the influential post of European Commissioner, with the replacement of Ms Maria Damanaki by Mr. Avramopoulos.

However, in such a case, Mr. Samaras will be delivering PASOK both ministries that handle national issues, given that Mr. Venizelos, besides Deputy Prime Minister is also Minister of Foreign Affairs.

At the same time, according to government sources, Mr. Samaras has decided not to appoint Ms. Dora Bakoyannis as Defense Minister. The contenders for the post of Minister of National Defence from New Democracy are many, including Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos, who held this post from June 2012 to June 3013.
With a view to maintaining political balance and avoid conflict with Mr. Venizelos, the most likely scenario at this time is for Prime Minister Antonis Samaras to become National Defence minister himself, sources say.