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Within the day, the government is expected to resolve the pending issue of the reshuffle of general secretaries, which has caused tension within the ranks of the New Democracy party. The troika of Giorgos Mylonakis, Akis Skertsos, and Thanasis Nezis will finalize the arrangements that will receive the green light from the Prime Minister. It is estimated that the changes will not be sweeping, but they will be significant enough to “break fiefdoms,” as described by a government official, and to improve inefficiencies. Notably, former ND MPs such as Tasos Gaitanis, Christoforos Boutsikakis, Giannis Melas, and Savvas Chionidis are rumored to be considered, along with internal transfers of general secretaries from one ministry to another.
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis announced earlier that the names of the new general secretaries will be disclosed by the Prime Minister’s office within the day.
However, the other open front is in Brussels, where, under normal circumstances, the political season would have ended. These days, though, the behind-the-scenes activity within and around the Berlaymont building of the European Commission is intense, focused on the countries’ choices for commissioner positions in the new Commission under Ursula von der Leyen. Although von der Leyen received a vote of confidence from the European Parliament with relative ease, the situation remains complex as member states have ambitions regarding portfolios, and prime ministers strongly resist the idea of proposing two candidates, a man and a woman, for von der Leyen to choose from.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis aligns with this stance, based on his statements to journalists in the Presidential garden. According to recent developments, first, we will know the identity of the Greek commissioner, followed by the portfolio assigned to Greece by von der Leyen after the related negotiations, in which Mitsotakis enters from a position of strength due to his relationship with the Commission President and his negotiating role on behalf of the European People’s Party (EPP) over the previous period.
Unquestionably, the most prominently mentioned candidate is Central Macedonia’s regional governor, Apostolos Tzitzikostas. Tzitzikostas was a notable figure at the Presidential reception, sharing a warm handshake with Mitsotakis. According to information from “THEMA,” the two men discussed the prospect of a European transition days ago. However, Mitsotakis did not make any absolute commitments, even though Tzitzikostas is on the shortlist. Tzitzikostas joked that he is a “commissioner” in a church, but converging information suggests he is favored over other alternatives. It is highly likely that this week we will have related announcements from the Maximos Mansion, following Mitsotakis’s return from Paris and before the brief summer break.
Backstage Battles
Von der Leyen faces multiple pressures that she must balance. Prime ministers are bypassing her letter and are expected to propose their preferred candidates based on internal political balances. This creates an initial problem for von der Leyen, who seeks a Commission balanced between men and women, an issue that does not seem to concern the prime ministers much.
Moreover, the battle for portfolios behind the scenes is fierce. Major countries like France, Germany, and Italy are emphasizing their size and importance to European balances, demanding the prime “fillets” of the Commission. Questions remain about the financial “endowment” for new portfolios such as Defense, Housing, and the Mediterranean. Greece is not necessarily interested in the new portfolios, given their uncertain nature. However, a source familiar with the balances explains that the Mediterranean portfolio could be extremely crucial for the region, potentially acting as a counterbalance to the dominance of Estonia’s Kaja Kallas in the position of the EU High Representative. Notably, Cyprus and Malta are vying for this portfolio.
For Greece, it is said behind the scenes that von der Leyen could entrust the country with a very critical portfolio. Discussions include Competitiveness (considered a prime “fillet”), Employment and Cohesion, Energy, and others. Mitsotakis certainly wants a portfolio linked to a strong Directorate-General and significant resources. A prevalent scenario is to announce the Greek choice for the commissioner position first, followed by a meeting with von der Leyen, and then the portfolio announcement.
