ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is poised to reshuffle his government following a poor showing at EU elections last month, Greek media reported on Monday.
"Countdown to the reshuffle", read a headline on the country's main news website in.gr, as other outlets reported that the reshuffle could take place as early as Monday evening.
The reshuffle is aimed at breathing new life into Samaras' fragile conservative-Socialist coalition following defeat in EU elections at the hands of the radical left SYRIZA party, the country's main opposition.
SYRIZA has staunchly opposed the harsh austerity measures passed by the government in return for a massive 240 billion euro ($330 billion) bailout funded jointly by the European Union and the IMF.
Speculation has been rife that Finance Minister Yanis Stournaras, who has been in the job for the past two years and played a key role in bailout negotiations, may be replaced.
"Move Sournaras" was the headline of the Sunday edition of right-wing daily Eleftheros Typos.
It is thought that Stournaras may leave to head the Bank of Greece, where current governor George Provopoulos's term expires on June 21.
While financial assistance from Brussels is expected to end this year, Athens hopes to resume negotiations with its European partners to reduce its huge public debt, which has reached about 175 percent of gross domestic product.
Samaras' intention to reshuffle his government was revealed last week by the deputy prime minister, Evangelos Venizelos of the Socialist party.
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