The cabinet reshuffle forced by the resignation of two ministers may come as early as today, government sources have indicated.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to tread cautiously, so as not to upset balances within his party, as the bailout evaluation is ongoing and the Novartis scandal probe may charge the political climate.
Ministers in crucial ministries that relate to Greece’s international economic and diplomatic relations will remain untouched. They include Finance Minister Euclid Tsaakalotos, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, and Defence Minister Panos Kammenos.
The latest information is that outgoing Alternate Labour Minister Rania Antonopoulou, will be replaced by the president of the Organisation for the Employment of Human Resources (OAED), Maria Karamesini.
Antonopoulou resigned after it was revealed that the state was legally paying her rent.
Government sources said that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was planning a reshuffle after Easter, which is on 8 April, to give the government a fresh start and boost, ahead of the end of the current bailout programme, in August. The double resignation of Antonopoulou and her husband, ex-economy minister Dimitris Papadimitriou, however, forced the PM’s hand.
The latest information indicates that Stergios Pitsiorlas will replace Panagiotis Kouroumplis as Merchant Marine Minister.
Kouroumplis is expected to be offered the agriculture ministry.
Alexis Haritsis will reportedly be promoted to Economy and Development Minister from the post of alternate minister, which will now be occupied by Dimitris Liakos, barring last-minute changes.
It is unclear if actress Lydia Koniordou will stay on as culture minister, but if she leaves then Stavros Benos, a former Pasok minister, is expected to replace her.
