Greek President Karolos Papoulias swore in two new cabinet members on Friday lunchtime at the Presidential Mansion. Evangelos Venizelos has now taken over as Finance Minister and George Papaconstantinou as Environment Minister.
Venizelos, originally from Thessaloniki, has served as a Socialist parliamentarian since 1993, and was a former Defence Minister. He is said to carry a lot of political weight, both inside the Socialist party and in the wider public. He is also known for his sharp intellect and uncompromising opinions. In one of his first duties as finance minister, the new cabinet member will meet with fellow euro-zone finance ministers in Luxembourg Sunday and Monday, to debate the new tough, five-year, €28 billion ($39.79 billion) austerity program. In 2007, he challenged Papandreou for the party leadership.
Papaconstantinou, head of a belt-tightening program that has caused turmoil in his socialist party, is considered to be a ruling PASOK party heavyweight and has held several cabinet posts in the past including those of government spokesman, justice minister and development minister. In a poll published on the 18th of May 2011, 80% of the people asked, said they had no faith in Mr. Papakonstantinou, to handle the Greek economic crisis.
Both ministers were present at a cabinet meeting chaired by Papandreou after the swearing-in ceremony.
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