First names of the reshuffle

The whole economy team changes, some ministers are withdrawn, bankers come onboard and Pagkalos is heading for the exit, according to the first info regarding Papandreou’s reshuffle.

The processes are intense and within the next few hours all the crucial ministerial positions will be finalized, despite the fact that the basic pieces of this puzzle were prepared on Tuesday night at Kastri during the PM’s meeting with his close associates.

So far it is certain that Papakonstantinou is leaving the Finance ministry – it is not known yet whether he will be given another ministry – and is likely to be replaced by Evangelos Venizelos (first in line) or another member of major political weight with a European profile, such as Anna Diamantopoulou.

The most probable scenario, though, is that the ministry of Finances will be separated from that of Finance.

The economy team will be joined by one top banker at least, responsible for privatizations, with Vasilis Rapanos, Apostolos Tamvakakis, Nikos Karamouzis and Giannis Stournaras being at the top of the list.

Pagkalos’ removal from office should be considered certain, although no one can be sure about the future of thecurrent vice president, since everything will be fluid until the last moment.

The withdrawals of Pavlos Geroulanos and Tina Birbili should also be considered certain, with both of them expected to be transferred to Maximos Mansion as PM advisors. The future of Foreign Affairs minister Dimitris Droutsas, as well as Haris Pamboukis, is also uncertain.

Michalis Chrisochoidis is probably going to the Environment ministry and Andreas Loverdos will possibly take on the ministry of Social Security along with the current Health ministry.