New government vows to keep Greece in eurozone
2012-06-22 12:46:01
Greece’s new coalition government, which was sworn in at 7 p.m on Thursday, vowed to achieve economic recovery and keep the country in the eurozone.
“It aims to deal with the crisis, open the way to growth and revise the terms of the bailout agreement (Memorandum) without jeopardizing the country’s place in Europe or its membership of the eurozone,” said the programmatic agreement reached among the three parties participating in the new government and released earlier on Thursday.
The agreement also states that the new government will not waver from the goals of eliminating the fiscal deficit, brining public debt under control and implementing structural changes.
The new scheme is headed by Antonis Samaras, leader of conservative New Democracy (ND) which topped the poll on June 17.
It comprises 17 ministers, seven alternate ministers and 14 deputy ministers.
The ND contingent fills most posts with prominent members, while socialist Pasok, third-placed in the election, and sixth-placed Democratic Left (Demar), contribute loosely-affiliated figures to two ministries each.
Economist and National Bank of Greece president Vasilis Rapanos, who is considered a Pasok nominee, takes the helm at the key Finance ministry. ND deputy Simos Kedicoglou will be government spokesman, while Evangelos Meimarakis assumes the post of Speaker of Parliament.
Three previously abolished ministries, of Tourism, Merchant Marine and Macedonia-Thrace are being resuscitated.