Kouvelis pledges to back reforms, hints at snub from bigger coalition partners
The leader of Democratic Left (DIMAR), the junior partner in Greece’s previous government, on Tuesday pledged to support the debt-hit country’s structural reform program while hinting that his leftist party was snubbed by the bigger partners in the coalition.
“[DIMAR] will continue to support Greece’s European course as well as the need for reforms so that Greece can exit the crisis,” Fotis Kouvelis said.
The leftist leader however criticized the operation of the three-member coalition government suggesting that DIMAR was effectively shut out of decision-making.
“Public affairs were treated with a narrow partisan mentality,” he said.
Greece’s new Cabinet was sworn in on Tuesday, with socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos assuming the dual role of deputy prime minister and foreign minister and the key position of finance minister unchanged.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras announced a broad reshuffle on Monday night, just a few days after DIMAR pulled out of the administration after a dispute over the fate of public broadcaster ERT.
