The announcement of the new, reshuffled, cabinet will be made either Friday or the beginning of next week, in any case after Thursday’s swearing-in of the new president of the republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sees the reshuffle as an opportunity for a reboot following a period on the defensive, unprecedented in over five and a half years of governance, brought on by the delayed severe backlash to the Tempe rail disaster, Greece’s worst ever, two years ago.
Moving on, for Mitsotakis, means “forg(ing) a relationship of trust with citizens” and changing “the climate of mistrust that exists in society,” as he told outgoing president Katerina Sakellaropoulou in their final official meeting Monday.
“Political consensus is needed now more than ever,” Sakellaropoulou replied.
Constitutional reform, especially making it easier to prosecute derelict ministers, will be a pivot of the effort to regain trust. No less important will be other reforms in health, education and housing, as well as efforts to curb inflation and boost incomes. The constitutional reform requires votes in two successive parliaments, with an enhanced, three fifths majority required in both of them.
Information relayed to Kathimerini shows that the reshuffle will be more a case of people switching roles and new blood entering at the deputy ministerial level. One notable exception could be veteran former minister and ex-European commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, who is being considered as either foreign or migration minister.
Current Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis is widely expected to become vice premier. Labor Minister Niki Kerameus has been considered the favorite to replace him, but, lately, it is Education Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis who has been gaining ground, because he is considered popular and successful. A dark horse is Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis.
Hatzidakis’ promotion will likely mean that Minister of State Makis Voridis will move to either environment or infrastructure.
Staying put are Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis (unless Avramopoulos is brought in), Interior Minister Thodoros Livanios, Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis and Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.