Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is making moves. Fresh off his center-right party’s triumph in Europe’s parliamentary elections, he’s tweaking his Cabinet to focus on issues close to Greeks’ hearts – cost-of-living and labor policies. The recent drop in inflation may have provided a brief respite, but for most Greeks, the cost of living remains a pressing concern exacerbated by the pandemic and Russia’s conflict with Ukraine driving up prices in the southern European nation.
Takis Theodorikakos, a seasoned 59-year-old who previously managed the interior and public order sectors, will now lead the development ministry, tasked with overseeing consumer prices. In a bold social media declaration following the Cabinet shuffle, Theodorikakos vowed to take on profiteering and slash prices to ease the burden on Greek households. The Prime Minister’s New Democracy party emerged triumphant in the June 9 European parliamentary elections with a solid 28.3% of the vote, comfortably outstripping the left-wing Syriza party at 14.9%.
Despite increasing its lead over Syriza from the previous European elections, Mitsotakis’ ND party’s performance was deemed lackluster, slipping nearly five percentage points from its 2019 display. Disappointingly, voter turnout was lackadaisical, with nearly 60% of eligible voters abstaining, paving the way for fringe right-wing parties to make gains. The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to revamp key ministries, replacing figures in charge of labor, interior, and agriculture, with ex-Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos stepping in for Migration Minister Dimitris Kairidis.
Greece, a vital entry point for migrants seeking sanctuary in the European Union, faces the ongoing challenge of managing the influx of arrivals, mostly from Turkey. Although the number of migrants reaching Greek shores has decreased in recent times, the issue remains a critical one for the government to address. While the finance, foreign affairs, and defense portfolios remain untouched, the reshuffle signifies Mitsotakis’ commitment to tackling pressing domestic concerns head-on.
Having ascended to power in 2019 after Syriza’s tenure during the financial crisis, Mitsotakis marked a resounding reelection victory in the summer of 2023. The newly appointed ministers are poised to be sworn in imminently, with the initial Cabinet gathering set for the following day. As Mitsotakis charts a course focused on addressing the core worries of the Greek populace, all eyes are on the revamped government to deliver on its promises and steer the nation towards stability and prosperity.
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