The Prime Minister Antonis Samaras appears determined to carry out extensive changes in his cabinet and party, in light of the recent scandal involving the ministerial council’s general secretary and his personal associate of over thirty years, Panagiotis Baltakos. The scandal came to overturn the optimistic climate that had been generated by recent financial developments, with a Kapa Research study showing the opposition taking the lead in the polls.
Sources from the Prime Minister’s office have suggested that the damaged caused by the Baltakos scandal is “manageable” and that Mr. Samaras will take more initiatives, such as the recent VAT-related announcement. Mr. Samaras will also seek to take advantage of the upcoming visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who will be in Athens on Friday.
With many New Democracy and cabinet officers displeased with the recent developments though, Mr. Samaras is also considering carrying out changes after the upcoming European elections. The Prime Minister is also banking on developments in finances being able to reverse the effects of the Baltakos scandal.
