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Tuesday, 26 November 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-02-14Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM proceeds with major gov't reshuffle, smaller CabinetGreek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis proceeded with a sweeping government reshuffle on Tuesday, nearly two years after his New Democracy party easily assumed the government's reins. One of the most prominent but expected decisions involved the appointment of outgoing Athens mayor Dora Bakoyanni as foreign minister in place of veteran high-ranking career diplomat Petros Molyviatis, a long-time adviser to the prime minister and to his uncle and namesake, late Greek statesman and ND founder Constantine Karamanlis. The other change at the foreign ministry was the appointment of Theodoros Kassimis as one of three deputy ministers, replacing Panayiotis Skandalakis. In a later press conference, Molyviatis announced his retirement from public service.A more-or-less surprise came with the announcement that six deputy ministers' posts were eliminated. In another high-profile change, ruling ND party secretary Vangelis Meimarakis was appointed as the new defence minister, in place of Spilios Spiliotopoulos. High-ranking ND deputy Lefteris Zagoritis will replace Meimarakis at the party's top post. Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis, meanwhile, one of the most popular figures in the government, according to opinion polls, left the post to run for Mayor of Athens in the fall municipal elections on an ND-backed ticket. Former Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos will replace Kaklamanis, as he was shifted from the tourism development ministry. Avramopoulos' position was filled by Fani Palli-Petralia, up until Tuesday the alternate culture minister. Karamanlis, furthermore, sheds the culture ministry portfolio he kept for himself during a period that also coincided with the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, with George Voulgarakis assuming the post after being shifted from the public order minister's chair. Top ND cadre and former minister Vyron Polydoras fills Voulgarakis' position at the public order ministry. Former agriculture minister Savvas Tsitouridis takes over from Panos Panayiotopoulos at the employment and social protection ministry. The six deputy ministers' posts eliminated included those held by Petros Tatoulis (culture), Nikolaos Angelopoulos (employment), Skandalakis (foreign affairs), George Salagoudis (development), Anastasios Liaskos (tourism development), and Anastasios Nerantzis (transport and communication). The latter, however, was re-appointed as a deputy development minister. Additionally, newcomer George Kalantzis assumes the Macedonia-Thrace portfolio in place of Nikos Tsiartsionis. Tuesday's political developments end months of mostly local press speculation over when and if Karamanlis would reshuffle his Cabinet. Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos announced the reshuffle during his regular daily press briefing. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Presidential Mansion. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. [02] PASOK leader on gov't reshuffleMain opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou, commenting on Tuesday evening on Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis' decision to proceed in a government reshuffle earlier in the day, said that "the countdown for the New Democracy (ND) party began with the reshuffle."The PASOK leader launched a stinging attack against the government and targetted the prime minister, saying that "Mr. Karamanlis' responsibilities are very great with regard the current situation and the country's impasse." Papandreou also said that Karamanlis "did not live up to expectations," as "the Greek people expected today that the prime minister would have acted with a feeling of seriousness and fundamental self-criticism." The PASOK leader said that " the major impasses which the government's policy created remain," and underlined:"There are no impasses in democracies. Every time there is a solution. There is the other path and the solution is given by the citizens with their participation. The people give it with the popular verdict." He further said that "the prime minister cannot hide behind the reshuffle and steal a short period of time given that reality is different." ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. [03] PM departs for Berlin and DublinPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis is due to meet with Israeli President Moshe Katzav, the first Israeli President to pay a state visit to Greece, on Wednesday following the swearing in of his new Cabinet, which was announced on Tuesday. The meeting is slated for 11:00 a.m. Karamanlis departs at 3:30 p.m. for Berlin, where he will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, before heading for Dublin on Thursday, where he will meet with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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