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Ministers will ensure the victory of PASOK in the local elections in November

02 September 2010 / 09:09:51  GRReporter
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Having the recent studies of the electoral attitude of municipalities in his hands the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is frantically considering repair of his government and especially his strategy for the upcoming November elections for local authorities. Political analysts argue that the Socialist Prime Minister is determined to wage relentless war to win this vote. He intends to involve for this purpose the most powerful and popular figures of his party in the battle of the 13 super areas that the new zoning plan of Greece, known as Kalikratis, has created. Insiders claim that there are even three ministers among these thirteen popular figures.

One of them is the Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Tina Birbili to be voted as a potential candidate in Attica. She frankly acknowledged her reluctance to leave the ministerial chair. "The Prime Minister decides who, for how long and at what position will serve the interests of the country the best,” was the explicit answer of the government spokesman George Petalotis. These words further confirmed the speculation that the Prime Minister Papandreou is considering major reshuffle in the higher power echelons.

The Greek media reported the transfer of the current Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrisochoidis to head the Ministry of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping as certain. Chrisochoidis can not boast of successful terrorist pursuing as terrorists are becoming more and more impudent after every attack. There were talks about Michalis Chrisochoidis’ resignation after the explosion on the seventh floor of the Ministry of Citizen Protection at the end of June, when his personal assistant George Vassilakis was killed. However, the idea to head the key Ministry of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping made the current minister Louka Katseli very angry. She said: "Modern policy is not made by short stays in one ministry and another.”

Analysts announced as certain the merger of the Ministries of Employment and Social Affairs and Health. It is an open secret that the position of the present health minister Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou was shaky for a long time. The inspecting officials of the Triple – the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund – constantly attack the state of healthcare in Greece as they are not at all satisfied with the progress of reforms there. On the contrary. The positions of the current Minister of Employment and Social Affairs Andreas Loverdos are very strong. It is believed that he and the Minister of Finance George Papakonstantinou have bore the largest part of the ongoing reforms in Greece on their shoulders.

And yet another position is certain for now. The present Interior Minister Yannis Ragousis will assume the post of coordinator of the government, which will be charged with much of the work with the media. Analysts believe that despite this new function in the cabinet Theodoros Pangalos will keep his post of deputy prime minister without portfolio. It is not known yet what role the former Vice President of the European Central Bank Lucas Papademos will play. He has the glory of one of the best Greek financiers and it is unlikely to remain outside the corridors of power for long.

So, we should wait until Sunday when the Prime Minister George Papandreou himself will give answers to all the questions about the new Greek government.

Tags: Cainet reshuffleElections in NovemberPolitics
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