With the “collateral loss” of the resignation of two close associates of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the tough political confrontation over economic interests, which seek a share of power, was completed. This confrontation was recorded on the sidelines of the debate in the Parliament on the motion of no confidence by the opposition.
However, it is not clear whether the “dismissal” from the Maximos Mansion of the Minister of State Stavros Papastavrou and the Deputy Prime Minister Giannis Bratakos, decided by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will be accompanied by broader changes in the government structure, namely a reshuffle of the government, which some had predicted for some time, or if the two vacant positions will simply be filled and the “card” of reshuffling will remain in the hands of the Prime Minister to use it later, especially the day after the European elections in June.
“We are moving forward”, was the enigmatic statement with which the Prime Minister responded to journalists who “besieged” him to learn his intentions immediately after his departure from Parliament and the rejection of the motion of no confidence. “I have nothing more to say to you,” he said, leaving all possibilities open.
According to the prevailing scenario, however, Mr. Mitsotakis does not intend at this stage to proceed with extensive changes. According to one version discussed the position of Mr. Bratakos in the Prime Minister’s office is likely to be filled by George Mylonakis, the longtime and loyal collaborator of the Prime Minister, who is currently the Secretary General of the Parliament.
The resignations of Mr. Papastavrou and Mr. Bratakos were prompted by reports that they had visited the home of a businessman who had celebrated his name day last Monday and had received visits from his friends. Although initial reports about the presence of the two government officials at the businessman’s house, which surfaced on Wednesday, suggested that they were there as envoys of the Prime Minister who was in Canada at the time, it turned out to be their own initiative.
World’s largest snake “Ana Julia” found dead in Amazon a few weeks after it was discovered
The issue took on dimensions when the same evening it was mentioned by PASOK president Nikos Androulakis, who raised it from the podium of the Parliament wanting to refute the attacks he had received from the government. Attacks according to which he had submitted the motion of no confidence in coordination with economic interests that oppose the government and were behind the Sunday publication of “Vima” regarding the alleged wiretapping of the conversations involving those implicated in the Tempi tragedy on the fateful night of the train accident.
The Prime Minister summoned his two associates to his office, and when they confirmed to him that they had indeed visited the celebrating businessman, he asked them to submit their resignations on the grounds that their participation in the particular social event “sent the wrong message.” Thus, shortly before Mr. Mitsotakis went to Parliament for his speech with which he concluded the three-day debate on the motion of no confidence, a statement was issued by the Maximos Mansion announcing the two resignations.
