A disappointing team
Anyone hoping that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras would open his government to centrist politicians when he formed his cabinet was sadly disappointed by the team that was sworn into office on Wednesday.
With just a handful of exceptions, the composition of the new government is clearly driven by a desire to strike a balance of power between the two parties that make up the coalition government – leftist SYRIZA and right-wing Independent Greeks – as well as by personal preferences.
The exceptions mainly concern the Finance Ministry. Here we see officials who know the issues at hand, who have already been involved in talks with foreign creditors and who are aware of the risks and challenges that lie ahead.
Nevertheless, the new cabinet is nothing to cheer about. It is not the team of worthy and experienced people that the prime minister ought to have put together given the difficulties of Greece’s situation.
