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Greek coalition forced into cabinet reshuffle after benefits scandal

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The Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has been forced into an emergency cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of two ministers over housing benefit claims that have embarrassed Athens’ leftist-led coalition. The new lineup was announced on Wednesday as a new round of compliance talks between the debt-stricken country and bailout creditors began.

The government spokesman said deputy prime minister Yannis Dragasakis would assume the key portfolio of economy and development minister, while Dimitris Vitsas would replace Yiannis Mouzalas as migration minister. Both are sensitive posts in a county that has battled bankruptcy and the European refugee crisis.

In a surprise move, the Syriza party leader also brought the former leader of the Democratic Left party, Fotis Kouvelis, into government, giving him Vitsas’s post as deputy defence minister.

The reshuffle was triggered by the resignation on Monday of economy minister Dimitris Papadimitriou and his wife, the alternate labour minister, Rania Antonopoulou. Antonopoulou gave her notice after it was revealed that she had accepted €23,000 in housing benefits at a time of immense hardship for Greeks.

The couple, both prominent academics in the US, where they have a permanent home, had been described as one of the wealthiest couples in politics, with combined multimillion-dollar assets.


Source :- theguardian
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