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Greece: Papandreou picks Venizelos as finance minister Greece: Papandreou picks Venizelos as finance minister
(40 minutes later)
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has changed his finance minister in a bid to push through unpopular austerity measures demanded by the EU.Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has changed his finance minister in a bid to push through unpopular austerity measures demanded by the EU.
Evangelos Venizelos has been promoted to the finance ministry and tasked with tackling a crippling debt crisis.Evangelos Venizelos has been promoted to the finance ministry and tasked with tackling a crippling debt crisis.
The former defence minister replaces George Papaconstantinou, who has been moved to the environment ministry.The former defence minister replaces George Papaconstantinou, who has been moved to the environment ministry.
The proposed reforms have sparked riots in Athens and nationwide strikes, while rattling global markets.The proposed reforms have sparked riots in Athens and nationwide strikes, while rattling global markets.
The French and German leaders are due to meet shortly in Berlin to discuss further assistance aimed at preventing Greece defaulting on its debt.The French and German leaders are due to meet shortly in Berlin to discuss further assistance aimed at preventing Greece defaulting on its debt.
Athens is seeking make budget cuts worth 28bn euros (£24.6bn; $40.5bn) over the next four years.Athens is seeking make budget cuts worth 28bn euros (£24.6bn; $40.5bn) over the next four years.
The policies are required for the release of the next tranche of aid - 12bn euros - from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.The policies are required for the release of the next tranche of aid - 12bn euros - from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.
Mr Venizelos' promotion came as part of a cabinet reshuffle that will be put to a vote of confidence in parliament expected on Sunday. Mr Venizelos' promotion came as part of a cabinet reshuffle that will be put to a vote of confidence in parliament that is expected to take place on Tuesday.
Other movements included:Other movements included:
  • Stavros Lambrinidis, formerly head of the ruling Socialist Party's group of deputies at the European Parliament, has been promoted to foreign minister
  • Deputy Defence Minister Panos Beglitis and deputy Labour Minister George Koutroumanis have been given ministerial posts
  • Health Minister Andreas Loverdos has been given extra responsisbilities
  • Former Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas and former Environment Minister Tina Birbili have been dropped from the cabinet
Financial lifeline
  • Stavros Lambrinidis, formerly head of the ruling Socialist Party's group of deputies at the European Parliament, has been promoted to foreign minister
  • Deputy Defence Minister Panos Beglitis and deputy Labour Minister George Koutroumanis have been given ministerial posts
  • Health Minister Andreas Loverdos has been given extra responsibilities
  • Former Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas and former Environment Minister Tina Birbili have been dropped from the cabinet
Evangelos Venizelos represents the old guard of the governing Socialist Party and may be able to finesse aspects of the austerity programme to rebellious members of parliament. Critics will say Mr Papandreou has just reshuffled the same old names, says the BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens.
He is a law professor who was educated at the University of Paris and is a fluent French speaker, so he'll easily be able to communicate Athens' case to President Sarkozy and French-speaking Euro-politicians in Brussels. Our correspondent adds that the key questions remain: Will this new cabinet pass the parliamentary vote of confidence? Will it be able to force through the next batch of austerity measures? And will the new administration satisfy Greece's creditors, the IMF and the EU?
Intriguingly, he is a one-time political adversary of the prime minister who staged a hot-headed, ill-timed and ultimately unsuccessful leadership coup against Mr Papandreou after a general election defeat in 2007. Financial lifeline
Critics will say Mr Papandreou has just reshuffled the same old names and these are the key questions: Will this new cabinet pass the vote of confidence on Sunday? Will they be able to force through the next batch of austerity? And will this new administration satisfy Greece's creditors, the IMF and the EU?
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are set to discuss how to ensure the country can avoid default on its sovereign debt - which amounts to some 340bn euros.German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are set to discuss how to ensure the country can avoid default on its sovereign debt - which amounts to some 340bn euros.
Evangelos Venizelos represents the old guard of the Socialist Party and may be able to finesse aspects of the austerity programme to rebellious MPs.
A law professor and a fluent French speaker, he'll easily be able to communicate Athens' case to President Sarkozy and French-speaking Eurocrats in Brussels.
Intriguingly, he is a one-time political adversary of the prime minister who staged a hot-headed, ill-timed and ultimately unsuccessful leadership coup against Mr Papandreou after a general election defeat in 2007.
French and German banks have the most exposure to Greek debt, holding, between them, 55% of Europe's total exposure.French and German banks have the most exposure to Greek debt, holding, between them, 55% of Europe's total exposure.
Berlin and Paris have differed over the handling of the Greek crisis: Mrs Merkel has been insistent that banks and private creditors holding Greek debt should accept losses as part of the rescue plan, in the face of domestic opposition to German taxpayers underwriting more of Greece's debt burden.Berlin and Paris have differed over the handling of the Greek crisis: Mrs Merkel has been insistent that banks and private creditors holding Greek debt should accept losses as part of the rescue plan, in the face of domestic opposition to German taxpayers underwriting more of Greece's debt burden.
France, meanwhile, is reluctant to accept those terms as three major French banks are heavily exposed to Greek debt and risk considerable losses if it is restructured.France, meanwhile, is reluctant to accept those terms as three major French banks are heavily exposed to Greek debt and risk considerable losses if it is restructured.
Similarly, the European Central bank is worried any changes in terms of the bailout deal will set a bad precedent for nations in similar financial straits such as Portugal, Ireland and Spain.Similarly, the European Central bank is worried any changes in terms of the bailout deal will set a bad precedent for nations in similar financial straits such as Portugal, Ireland and Spain.
The EU's top financial official Olli Rehn has indicated Greece is likely to get its next financial lifeline in July, even though EU finance ministers have yet to agree on a new bail-out package.The EU's top financial official Olli Rehn has indicated Greece is likely to get its next financial lifeline in July, even though EU finance ministers have yet to agree on a new bail-out package.
Downgraded debtDowngraded debt
Three deputies have left Mr Papandreou's Pasok party in as many days in protest against the austerity package but, on Thursday, Mr Papandreou vowed to fight on.Three deputies have left Mr Papandreou's Pasok party in as many days in protest against the austerity package but, on Thursday, Mr Papandreou vowed to fight on.
The resignations do not affect the party's five-seat parliamentary majority as the seats are automatically allocated to the next Socialists in line, but they are an indication of the difficulties Mr Papandreou faces in winning confidence in his leadership, says the BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens. The resignations do not affect the party's five-seat parliamentary majority as the seats are automatically allocated to the next Socialists in line, but they are an indication of the difficulties Mr Papandreou faces in winning confidence in his leadership, correspondents say.
On Wednesday, Greece witnessed some of the most violent protests in more than a year, as tens of thousands of activists and unionists gathered in Syntagma square in Athens, near parliament, while a further 20,000 demonstrated in Thessaloniki.On Wednesday, Greece witnessed some of the most violent protests in more than a year, as tens of thousands of activists and unionists gathered in Syntagma square in Athens, near parliament, while a further 20,000 demonstrated in Thessaloniki.
President Karolos Papoulias has urged Greek politicians not to make matters worse by turning the economic crisis into a political one.President Karolos Papoulias has urged Greek politicians not to make matters worse by turning the economic crisis into a political one.
If the cabinet reshuffle is ratified by parliament, Greece will almost certainly get the official money it needs to stay above water for a few more weeks, notably the next tranche of last year's EU-IMF bailout, says the BBC's economics editor, Stephanie Flanders. With a new cabinet appointed, Greece will almost certainly get the official money it needs to stay above water for a few more weeks, notably the next tranche of last year's EU-IMF bailout, says the BBC's economics editor, Stephanie Flanders.
All the eurozone ministers have to do is agree in principle to fill the funding gap in the Greek economic programme, which they will now do on Sunday, adds our correspondent.All the eurozone ministers have to do is agree in principle to fill the funding gap in the Greek economic programme, which they will now do on Sunday, adds our correspondent.
Greece's debt was downgraded by Standard & Poor's ratings agency earlier this week, making it the lowest-rated of the countries it monitors.Greece's debt was downgraded by Standard & Poor's ratings agency earlier this week, making it the lowest-rated of the countries it monitors.
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