Countdown for the Greek cabinet reshuffle
The new cabinet reshuffle is expected to take place at the beginning of next week the latest, after Democratic Left party has withdrawn its ministers and deputy ministers.
PASOK’s presence is expected to be reinforced in the – now- two party coalition government. PASOK president, Evangelos Venizelos has cancelled his trip to Thessaloniki and is in close consultation with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. President of the Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, has postponed his visit to the island of Lefkada, scheduled for Monday next.
PASOK leader communicated over the phone with PM Samaras, earlier today. The eventuality of a meeting of the two during the weekend is not to be dismissed. First thing in the agenda is to be the new programmatic agreement Mr.Venizelos has asked for, and secondly the persons to enter the new cabinet.
Spokesman for the government, Simos Kedikoglou, expressed his certainty that the New Democracy – PASOK government, after Democratic Left’s withdrawal, will keep on fulfilling its scope, by means of the essential majority in the Parliament.
The government is now supported by 153 deputies of New Democracy and PASOK. According to “Ethnos” newspaper information, several independent MPs are expected to return to New Democracy party. Namely, Mr. Markopoulos and Mr.Soldatos. Mr. Loverdos and Mr. Aedonis, former PASOK MPs, are also expected to offer their support to the government.