With the countdown underway for the announcement of Alexis Tsipras’ shadow cabinet, as all indications point to the former prime minister presenting today the figures who will be positioned against the sitting government’s ministers, meetings and contacts at Amalias Avenue continue at an unrelenting pace. Apogeumatini tis Kyriakis revealed the figures Alexis Tsipras has selected to serve as the public face of his party — though, as is customary in politics, last-minute reshuffles cannot be ruled out.
Alexis Tsipras: The key figures who will face off against the government’s ministers
Unsurprisingly, Alexis Tsipras is placing considerable emphasis on his economic team, given that — as with past elections — voters’ pocketbooks will likely decide the outcome. Giorgos Chouliarakis, who currently collaborates with the Bank of Greece, is expected to play a coordinating role in the overall effort. Among those mentioned for shadow ministerial positions are former head of the Parliamentary Budget Office Fragkiskos Koutenakis, as well as former SYRIZA Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Dimitris Liakou.
In the same portfolio or within the Development sector, former President of the Economic Chamber of Northwestern Peloponnese and Western Greece, Giorgos Pappas — a PASOK alumnus — is expected to feature, while Dionysis Temponeras is set to take on the Labour brief.
Surgeon and trade unionist Spyros Dritsas is being mentioned as a candidate for the Health portfolio, while Professor of International Law and International Relations Haris Tzimitra is reportedly being considered for Foreign Affairs. History Professor Ioanna Laliotou is also being discussed for the Education portfolio.
Retired Air Marshal Christos Christodoulou is being mentioned for the Defence brief, while the name of Zacharoula Tsirigoti is in the running for the Migration Policy portfolio.
Former Hellenic Coast Guard Commander Stamatis Raptis and former Hellenic Police Chief Aris Andrikopoulos may take on the Shipping and Citizen Protection portfolios, respectively.
Former senior judge Maria Lepeniotis, who accompanied Alexis Tsipras to the Supreme Court to submit the founding declaration of his new party, is reportedly set to lead the Justice portfolio.
Themis Moumouldis could be positioned in the Culture brief. Finally, reports suggest that Kostas Gavroglou will take on a coordinating role within the shadow cabinet.
The National Council of 300 convenes — who will join the new coordinating body
Meanwhile, barring any unexpected developments, the new party’s National Council — composed of the 300 founding signatories of the party’s programmatic declaration — is set to convene this coming Saturday. The session will give rise to a Coordinating Centre, designed to function as a flexible governing body. Among those expected to participate are Secretary Miltos Hatzigianakis, along with Michalis Kalogirou, Giorgos Vasiliadis, Kostas Toumbouras, Evgenia Fotoniata, Gianna Peppe, Nikos Marantzidis, Theoni Koufonikalakou, Anna Papadopoulou, Kostas Gavroglou, Dionysis Temponeras, and others.
