First Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras explained

Cabinet Name:First Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras
Jurisdiction:Greece
Flag:Flag_of_Greece.svg
Government Head:Alexis Tsipras
Deputy Government Head:Yannis Dragasakis
State Head:Prokopis Pavlopoulos
Current Number:13
Total Number:46
Political Parties:Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA),
Independent Greeks (ANEL)
(with participation from Ecologist Greens and independents)
Legislature Status:SYRIZA-led coalition government
162/300 (54%)
Opposition Parties:New Democracy
LAE (from 21/08/15)
Golden Dawn
To Potami
Communist Party of Greece (KKE)
Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK)
Opposition Leader:Antonis Samaras (Until 05/07/15)
Vangelis Meimarakis (From 05/07/15)
Election:January 2015 Greek legislative election
Legislature Term:16th (2015–2015)
Previous:Samaras Cabinet
Successor:Thanou-Christophilou Caretaker Cabinet

Following his victory in legislative elections held on 25 January 2015, the newly elected Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras appointed a new cabinet to succeed the cabinet of Antonis Samaras, his predecessor.[1] A significant reshuffle took place on 17 July 2015.

Tsipras resigned as Prime Minister on 20 August 2015, and after opposition parties failed to form their own government, on 27 August Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou was appointed as an interim Prime Minister, and her caretaker cabinet was sworn in on 28 August. Following the subsequent September legislative election, Tsipras was re-appointed as Prime Minister on 21 September and appointed a second cabinet that was sworn in on 23 September.

Composition of the cabinet

The cabinet is composed of 35 members, alongside 6 deputy ministers. Including the deputy ministers the cabinet comprises 6 females and 35 males. It reflects the majority coalition in Parliament. It is composed of the winning Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) with the support of the right-wing anti-austerity party, Independent Greeks (ANEL). The Ecologist Greens (OP), which had withdrawn from the election in support of SYRIZA, were given the office of Alternate Minister of Environment and Energy. Finally, some ministers do not belong to any party.

Oath of office

Most members of the cabinet were sworn in on 27 January 2015,[2] with the exception of the new Minister of Justice Nikos Paraskevopoulos, who was sworn in a day later,[3] and the Alternate Ministers Christodoulopoulou, Spirtzis and Fotakis who were sworn in almost two months later.

While most representatives of Syriza chose a civil oath of office, the ANEL representatives as well as Yiannis Panousis, Dimitris Mardas and Panagiotis Nikoloudis chose a religious oath before a representative of the Greek orthodox Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens.

Cabinet list

Prime Minister

Office[4] IncumbentPartyTenure
Prime MinisterAlexis Tsipraswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA26 January 2015 - 27 August 2015
Deputy Prime MinisterYannis Dragasakiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 - 28 August 2015

Government Ministries

The number of ministries has been reduced to ten, including four merged ministries:[5]

Alternate Ministers are directly assigned special responsibilities and powers by the prime minister, including:[6]

Full ministers however retain:

Deputy ministers are assigned with responsibilities and powers by the prime minister and the full minister they report to.

width=15% Ministry[7] width=40% Officewidth=20% IncumbentPartywidth=15% Tenure
1.
Ministry of the Interior and Administrative Reconstruction
Minister of the Interior and Administrative ReconstructionNikos Voutsiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of Administrative ReformGeorgios Katrougaloswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 17 July 2015
Christophoros Vernardakiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA17 July 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of Citizen ProtectionGiannis Panousiswidth=5px style="background-color: " Independent27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of Immigration PolicyTasia Christodoulopoulouwidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA21 March 2015 – 28 August 2015
Deputy Minister for Macedonia and ThraceMaria Kollia-Tsarouchaawidth=5px style="background-color: " ANEL27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of the Interior and Administrative ReconstructionPavlos Polakiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA17 July 2015 – 28 August 2015
2.
Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism
Minister of Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and TourismGiorgos Stathakiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and NetworksChristos Spirtziswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA28 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of ShippingThodoris Dritsaswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of TourismElena Kountourawidth=5px style="background-color: " ANEL27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
3.
Ministry of National Defence
Minister of National DefencePanos Kammenoswidth=5px style="background-color: " ANEL27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of National DefenceKostas Isyhoswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 17 July 2015
Dimitris Vitsaswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA17 July 2015 – 28 August 2015
Deputy Minister of National DefenceNikos Toskasawidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
4.
Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs
Minister of Culture, Education and Religious AffairsAristides Baltaswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of CultureNikos Xydakiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of EducationTasos Kourakiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of Research and InnovationKostas Fotakiswidth=5px style="background-color: " Independent21 March 2015 – 28 August 2015
Deputy Minister of SportsStavros Kontonisawidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
5.
Ministry of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy
Minister of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and EnergyPanagiotis Lafazaniswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 17 July 2015
Panos Skourletiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA17 July 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of Environment and EnergyGiannis Tsironiswidth=5px style="background-color: " OP27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of Agricultural Development and FoodEvangelos Apostolouwidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Deputy Minister of Agricultural Development Panagiotis Sgouridisawidth=5px style="background-color: " ANEL27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
6.
Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights
Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human RightsNikos Paraskevopouloswidth=5px style="background-color: " Independent28 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human RightsDimitris Papangelopouloswidth=5px style="background-color: " Independent17 July 2015 – 28 August 2015
7.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign AffairsNikos Kotziaswidth=5px style="background-color: " Independent27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of European AffairsNikos Hountiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 13 July 2015
Sia Anagnostopoulouwidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA18 July 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of International Economic RelationsEuclid Tsakalotoswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 6 July 2015
Alternate Minister of Foreign AffairsIoannis Amanatidiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA17 July 2015 – 28 August 2015
8.
Ministry of Finance
Minister of FinanceYanis Varoufakiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 6 July 2015
Euclid Tsakalotoswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA6 July 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of FinanceNadia Valavaniwidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 15 July 2015
Tryfon Alexiadiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA17 July 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of RevenueDimitris Mardaswidth=5px style="background-color: " Independent27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
9.
Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity
Minister of Labour and Social SolidarityPanos Skourletiswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 17 July 2015
Georgios Katrougaloswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA17 July 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of Social SolidarityTheano Fotiouwidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister for Combatting UnemploymentRania Antonopoulouwidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of Social SecurityDimitris Stratouliswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA21 March 2015 – 17 July 2015
Deputy Minister of Social Securitywidth=5px style="background-color: " ANEL18 July 2015 – 28 August 2015
10.
Ministry of Health and Social Security
Minister of Health and Social SecurityPanagiotis Kouroumpliswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Alternate Minister of Health Andreas Xanthoswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015

Ministers of State

width=5% Rank[8] width=40% Officewidth=20% IncumbentPartywidth=15% In office since
1.Minister of StateNikos Pappaswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
2.Minister of State for Coordinating Government OperationsAlekos Flambourariswidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Deputy Minister of State for Coordinating Government OperationsTerence Quickawidth=5px style="background-color: " ANEL27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
3.Minister of State for Combatting CorruptionPanagiotis Nikoloudiswidth=5px style="background-color: " Independent27 January 2015 – 23 September 2015
Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Gabriel Sakellaridisawidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA27 January 2015 – 17 July 2015
Deputy Minister to the Prime MinisterTerence Quickawidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA17 July 2015 – 28 August 2015
Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Government SpokespersonOlga Gerovassiliwidth=5px style="background-color: " SYRIZA17 July 2015 – 28 August 2015

Bold denotes full ministers attending the weekly cabinet council.
a Deputy ministers are not members of the cabinet but may attend cabinet meetings.
References:[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Changes

Resignations

Yanis Varoufakis, the Minister of Finance, resigned on 6 July 2015, following the 'No' vote in the Greek bailout referendum. In a blog post on his website, Varoufakis wrote: "Soon after the announcement of the referendum results, I was made aware of a certain preference by some Eurogroup participants, and assorted 'partners', for my... 'absence' from its meetings; an idea that the prime minister judged to be potentially helpful to him in reaching an agreement. For this reason I am leaving the Ministry of Finance today."[15] Varoufakis was succeeded as Minister of Finance by Euclid Tsakalotos. Tsakalotos in turn left his role as Alternate Minister of International Economic Affairs, leaving the position vacant.

Nikolaos Chountis, the Alternate Minister of European Affairs, resigned on 13 July 2015, three days before the debate on the first round of measures in the tenth austerity package began in the Hellenic Parliament. He also resigned from his parliamentary seat. Chountis subsequently took up the post of Member of the European Parliament for Greece, following Manolis Glezos's resignation.[16] Chountis was replaced as Alternate Minister of European Affairs by Sia Anagnostopoulou, as part of the 17 July cabinet reshuffle.

Nadia Valavani, the Alternate Minister of Finance, resigned on 15 July 2015, the day before the vote on the first round of measures in the tenth austerity package were debated in the Hellenic Parliament. Valavani was succeeded in her role by Tryfon Alexiadis on 17 July, as part of the cabinet reshuffle.

17 July 2015 cabinet reshuffle

Following a number of cabinet members voting against the government on the first set of measures in the tenth austerity package on 16 July 2015, Alexis Tsipras reshuffled his cabinet. The reshuffle took place on 17 July, and the new ministers were sworn in on 18 July. The most notable move was to remove Panagiotis Lafazanis from his ministerial role.

Cabinet members that were removed from cabinet:

Existing cabinet members that took on new roles:

New cabinet members:

References:[17] [18]

Along with ministerial changes, a special committee to combat corruption was also proposed by the Prime Minister, to be headed by the Minister of State for Combatting Corruption Panagiotis Nikoloudis. The committee would consist of Tryfon Alexiadis, Pavlos Polakis, Dimitris Papagelopoulos and Terence Quick.[19]

Newly appointed Minister of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Panos Skourletis described the reshuffle as an "adjustment by the government to a new reality".[20]

Notes and References

  1. News: Government announces the new ministerial cabinet. To Vima. 27 January 2015. 27 January 2015.
  2. News: Greece anti-bailout leader Tsipras made prime minister. . 26 January 2015. 26 January 2015.
  3. Web site: New SYRIZA cabinet sworn in at the presidential mansion. Capital.gr. 28 January 2015. 3 February 2015.
  4. Web site: el:Η σύνθεση της Κυβέρνησης. Composition of the Government. http://www.primeminister.gov.gr/government. 22 March 2015. el. 6 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170606194824/http://www.primeminister.gov.gr/government. dead.
  5. News: Government will compose four merged Ministries and six "small ones". 27 January 2015. 28 January 2015. Proto Thema.
  6. Web site: el:Ανάθεση αρμοδιοτήτων στην Αναπληρώτρια Υπουργό Εργασίας και Κοινωνικής Αλληλεγγύης Ουρανίας Αντωνοπούλου. Delegation of authority to the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity Ourania Antonopoulou. Prime Minister of Greece. https://diavgeia.gov.gr/doc/ΩΩ8ΨΘΩΠ-ΔΩ8. PDF. 16 February 2015. 22 March 2015. el.
  7. Web site: el:Καθορισμός σειράς τάξης των Υπουργείων. Sequencing order of Ministries. Prime Minister of Greece. https://diavgeia.gov.gr/doc/7546ΘΩΠ-Ψ9Γ. PDF. 17 February 2015. 22 March 2015. el.
  8. Web site: el:Καθορισμός σειράς προβαδίσματος των Υπουργών Επικρατείας. Precedence order of State Ministers. Prime Minister of Greece. https://diavgeia.gov.gr/doc/786ΡΘΩΠ-ΩΒΖ. PDF. 2 February 2015. 22 March 2015. el.
  9. News: The new cabinet. Kathimerini. 27 January 2015. 28 January 2015.
  10. News: New government announced, first cabinet meeting on Wednesday January 28. Greek News. 27 January 2015. 28 January 2015. 28 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150128213541/http://www.greeknewsonline.com/new-government-announced-first-cabinet-meeting-on-wednesday-january-28/. dead.
  11. News: Small cabinet group to meet every week, gov't sources say. newsbomb.gr. 27 January 2015. 28 January 2015.
  12. News: Tsipras unveils anti-austerity cabinet. 27 January 2015. 28 January 2015. Kathimerini.
  13. News: Με διπλή τελετή η ορκωμοσία της κυβέρνησης. 27 January 2015. 28 January 2015. Nooz.gr.
  14. News: The rise of 'Dr Doom': Yanis Varoufakis' explosive new role. 29 January 2015. 1 February 2015. The Sydney Morning Herald.
  15. News: Farrer. Martin. Rankin. Jennifer. Traynor. Ian. Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis resigns despite referendum no vote. 11 August 2015. The Guardian. 6 July 2015.
  16. News: Panoutsopoulou. Magda. Resistance builds in Greek parliament to bailout plan. 11 August 2015. Anadolu Agency. 14 July 2015.
  17. News: Smith. Helena. Alexis Tsipras reshuffles cabinet to get rid of bailout dissidents. 11 August 2015. The Guardian. 17 July 2015.
  18. News: Adamopoulos. Anastassios. The 8 New Faces of the Greek Government: Tsipras Reshuffles Cabinet. 12 August 2015. Greek Reporter. 18 July 2015.
  19. News: Adamopoulos. Anastassios. Greek Government Announces Cabinet Reshuffle. 11 August 2015. Greek Reporter.
  20. News: New Greek ministers sworn in after Tsipras' cabinet reshuffle. 11 August 2015. Hurriyet Daily News. 18 July 2015.