With the reshuffle being…ante portas for days now, the government’s schedule today includes a cabinet meeting that has been pending since May, before the European elections. As things stand, and barring…morning surprises with announcements of Mitsotakis’ intentions, today’s meeting will be the last for a number of cabinet members, either in general or in their current post. This is because some “top” ministers are flirting with leaving the group, while others may find themselves in another post.
In recent days and hours it is common knowledge that, with few exceptions, the ministerial pencils have come down and everyone is waiting for the announcements of Mitsotakis’ intentions. At the same time, information is also coming and going in the press, with several people estimating that today could be a day of announcements. Otherwise, with the return of Mitsotakis from Switzerland and Brussels (late Monday night), the time left in the hourglass for announcements will be scarce.
As is obvious, several ministers appear highly puzzled and concerned about the turn of events as they try to fish for information about their political fate. Today’s cabinet speakers include Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, State Minister Makis Voridis, Health Minister Adonis Georgiades, Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis and Infrastructure Minister Christos Staikouras. Although not all of them have the same weight of issues to propose, it is estimated that all of them will be in the cabinet after the interventions that will be made.
According to reports, the Prime Minister had a long meeting with K. Hadjidakis yesterday, which reignited the scenario of his move to the Foreign Ministry. This could possibly mean that Mr. Gerapetritis will return to his old position at the Maximos building, while Mr. Skylakakis will be in Finance. Another scenario “in play” is the move of Voridis to Justice.
It remains to be seen whether, during his introduction to the Cabinet, Mitsotakis will attempt to give some indication of his intentions for the “henceforth” of the governmental scheme. In any case, there will also be a political discussion in the governing body to assess the election result, as admittedly the agenda is neither long nor particularly complex. It was rather put forward as … external good testimony, so that Mitsotakis would not invite his ministers to a cabinet meeting without an agenda.
As far as the Mansion House is concerned, meanwhile, no particular changes are being proposed. According to protothema.gr, communications adviser Thomas Varvitsiotis, who played an active role during the election period, has been sounded out in order to “move” to the Maximou. This did not come to fruition and it remains to be seen whether he will be used otherwise how. Apart from Makis Voridis, Stelios Koutnatzis, Akis Skertsos, Pavlos Marinakis and Thanasis Kontogeorgis remain in their positions and with “charged” missions.
