Bailout critics get Greek cabinet posts
January 27, 2015
The outspoken bailout critic Yanis Varoufakis (pictured right) was named finance minister in the cabinet of Greece's new left-wing government under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (above left) on Tuesday. The 53-year-old economist and polyglot is also a member of Tsipras' Syriza party, and has often made public statements arguing that the repayment plan of Greece's debts as it stands is harmful to the Hellenic Republic and its citizens.
The rescue package repayments should be linked to growth, Varoufakis says, which will benefit not only Greece, but also its eurozone creditors.
Another Syriza economist, Giannis Dragasakis, will be deputy prime minister. In the run-up to the vote, Dragasakis demanded an investigation into how the country was forced into a bailout. As deputy prime minister, he will oversee ministries related to the economy.
Panos Kammenos, leader of the Independent Greeks (ANEL), Syriza's right-wing coalition partners, was tapped for the defense post. ANEL is on the opposite side of the political spectrum from Syriza in many ways, but both parties are staunchly against the bailout and the painful austerity measures it ushered in.
Longtime Tsipras aide Nikos Pappas was named state minister, a role similar to chief of staff. Tsipras also took the opportunity to expand the powers of the ministries of development, the interior, and public works, thus reducing the number of ministries from 19 to 11.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country is one of Greece's main creditors, had warm words for Tsipras and his new government on Tuesday, saying: "You are taking office at a difficult time in which you face a great responsibility," before wishing him "strength and success."
Syriza won a landmark general election victory on Sunday after running a campaign of renegotiating Greece's loan payments and seeking a write-off of more than half the debt.
es/kms(AP, AFP)