By D. Hatzinikolas
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has reportedly rejected proposals by his closest advisers to announce a Cabinet reshuffle after the crucial May 24 Eurogroup meeting, apparently choosing instead to lead his ruling SYRIZA party to a congress in July in an attempt to broaden its political support in the recession-plagued country.
The decision, if reports prove true, means Cabinet members will get at least a three-month “reprieve” in order to present results in dealing with a variety of problems, beyond the specter of a still delayed first review of the Greek program (third bailout).
The reports come amid growing speculation in the Greek capital that Tsipras was considering a reshuffle in order to signal a “new start” after an much-anticipated agreement this month with lenders.
If negotiations with creditors successfully conclude and loan disbursements resume, then the leftist government’s ministers will be called on to finalize a series of privatizations mandated by last summer’s memorandum, try and cut the high unemployment rate, curb tax evasion and open the process for hiring 10,000 staff members in the health and education sectors, given that lenders have approved the figure.
The other problem that the Greek government must resolve in the wake of the agreement with creditors is the refugee / migrant crisis. Several makeshift camps crowded with thousands of Mideast war refugees, but also third world nationals seeking to migrant to the rest of Europe, still exist in the country.
In a related political development, main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis unleashed another scathing attack on the leftist government over the weekend, with the former minister charging that Alexis Tsipras “is not part of the problem, but is the problem.”
Mitsotakis made the statement in an address at a congress held by the small Greek political formation Drassi, which promotes liberal, pro-western and market-friendly actions and initiatives for the country.
“The ‘cutter’ is the price for Alexis Tsipras’ unreliability, and the reason everyone believes the (recent austerity) measures will not bring results,” Mitsotakis said in referring to an automatic spending cut mechanism, dubbed by the local press and government critics as the “cutter”.
“Despite whatever disagreements and dividing lines of the past, we must proceed together in this major effort,” Mitsotakis said to a decidedly pro-reforms audience.
