The government seems to be on the verge of a reshuffle, according to information derived from ministries, with most ministers fearing for their positions.
The latest information points to the fact that the countdown has begun, on that which concerns a relative announcement on Wednesday afternoon, and the swearing-in of new ministers, before the President takes a trip abroad.
The nomenclature is already intensifying, although official sources are keeping quiet for the most part. At the same time, the possible ministerial candidates have not yet received any information from the Prime Minister’s office.
The Finance Minister position and the possible succession of Yannis Stournaras remains the centerpiece of the political puzzle of change. The scenarios circulating concerning Mr. Stournaras are: Prime Minister Samaras maintains to portfolio himself and appoints a new Deputy Minister, or Nikos Dendias takes over the ministry of Finance.
Development Minsiter Costis Hatzidakis seems to be in danger of being removed as well, replaced by a possible candidate from the “Elia”(PASOK) coalition party. However, this information is shaky at best since most people within the cabinet think that the ministry should remain under the control of the New Democracy party.
Coalition party PASOK will probably retain the ministries of Infrastructure and Transport, Environment and Energy, and Rural Development. On the latter, it is not yet clear if current Rural Development Minister A. Tsaftaris will be replaced by Andreas Loverdos.
Changes in the ministries of Health, and Shipping are also possible. The political future of corresponding ministers Adonis Georgiadis and Miltiadis Varvitsiotis is uncertain, with the latter preferring to go back to his political roots, in Piraeus.
Yannis Mihelakis’ ministry of the Interior might be taken over by Paris Koukoulopoulos (PASOK member), if Deputy Prime Minister, and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos insists on the appointment of his close associate to a ministry. Panos Panayiotopoulos of the Ministry of Culture might be replaced by Aris Spiliotopoulos, who ran as mayoral candidate for Athens, but lost in the first round of elections.
If Mr. Dendias takes over the ministry of Finance, as aforementioned, a replacement in his current Ministry of Public Order will have to be found. New Democracy party parliamentary representative Makis Voridis is one of the most prevalent candidates to take the spot.
The leadership in the Defense Ministry will continue as is, while there are no, or small changes expected for the Minsitry of Education.
