Achieving primary surpluses should be a top priority for the government now that it has received a fresh cash injection from our foreign creditors.

An economic turnaround is vital if Greece is to once again become an independent and credible partner within the European Union and begin rebuilding itself.

On a practical level, this means that the government’s ministers must take full control of their portfolios and conduct constant inspections of spending in order to curb all possible waste.

At the same time, they must also resist political pressure to dispense funds in areas where they are not absolutely essential for the smooth operation of the state and the economy.

This is the only way to streamline the dysfunctional, and in some cases corrupt, domains of the state apparatus, such as the health sector.

Any minister who is unwilling or incapable of doing what these pressing times call for should have no place in this government.