With the government reshuffle expected any day now, the phones are on fire with ministers and New Democracy MPs trying to get information, as the flow of information from the Mansion House is extremely limited.
In fact, few of the prime minister’s top-secret associates are aware of the thoughts of Mitsotakis, who is making appointments these days to discuss his options.
However, one of the conclusions impressed upon Mitsotakis the day before yesterday afternoon by the general director of the New Democracy party, Yannis Smyrlis, who briefed the prime minister on the mobilisation of the party apparatus in recent weeks, was the feeling that many New Democrats, traditional voters of the party, stayed home for a number of reasons.
In other words, it was not only centrist voters who chose the abstention route, but also a number of long-standing ruling party voters who felt that either the ballot box was not their concern or they were not convinced that the ballot box was of party importance.
Given this, everyone believes that the reshuffle that is in the works will have a strong “blue” colour. It will not only be a day-to-day driven reshuffle, but a reshuffle that will strengthen the party element of the government.
Of course, Mitsotakis is not deciding on party or geographical criteria, but will weigh up which ND MPs can do the job by common sense.
Because, the Prime Minister also said in his interview with Alpha that he does not take the message of the ballot box as a mandate for the government to turn more to the right, but as an exhortation to work more effectively on the critical issues of everyday life.
MPs in waiting
Somehow, a number of “blue” MPs are on hold. In the background, the name of former minister Takis Theodorikakos, who was also heard months ago in the corrective intervention made by Mitsotakis, is heard in the background.
Similarly, the former ministers Notis Mitarakis and Kostas Tsiaras, as well as Kostas Katsafados, are also being heard, while the names of MPs Kostas Karangounis, Christos Kella, Kostas Gioulekas, Makarios Lazaridis and Anna Efthymiou are being discussed behind the scenes.
There are also new MPs, for whom the Mansion House has a very good opinion and always in a reshuffle there can be caroms that can bring about utilisation.
The… awkward cabinet
If, however, the Prime Minister does not make the surprise today to announce his interventions in the cabinet, then Friday’s cabinet is expected to be extremely awkward, as several ministers will be “sitting on pins and needles”, while a few hours or days later they may not be in place.
Mitsotakis remains tight-lipped about his future plans, creating a sense of anticipation among ministers, many of whom have halted their usual activities in expectation of forthcoming decisions.
In any case, the issue of the reshuffle is expected to monopolise today’s briefing by government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, while Mitsotakis has an official evening commitment, to speak at SETE’s general assembly with new president Yannis Paraschis. Which means that until 20:00 he has plenty of time for contacts and planning.
