Shortly after 11:00 AM, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis announced the new government lineup.

At 37 years old, Marinakis, a lawyer by profession, is perhaps the most representative example of the reshuffle’s philosophy, in which Kyriakos Mitsotakis “dove into the ranks” and promoted younger-generation officials into key ministerial and deputy ministerial positions, aiming to showcase a different version of an administration now entering its sixth year.

Granted, Mitsotakis couldn’t pull rabbits out of a hat, but he thoroughly shuffled the deck.

In terms of numbers, compared to the previous cabinet, there were four ministerial and 12 deputy ministerial departures, along with the introduction of 15 new faces. Among the 61 government members (excluding the Prime Minister), 41 are MPs, whereas in the previous lineup, 40 out of 59 held parliamentary seats.

Thirty-Somethings and Forty-Somethings

The “generational shift” in government is evident through a series of appointments where ministers and deputy ministers fall within the 40-something or 30-something age brackets.

The challenging task of bridging economic policy and fiscal success with everyday reality for citizens, all without compromising fiscal discipline, has been assigned to 42-year-old Kyriakos Pierrakakis, known for gov.gr and non-state universities. He will work closely with Kostis Chatzidakis.

Chatzidakis moves to Maximos Mansion as Deputy Prime Minister, overseeing government coordination alongside Minister Akis Skertsos.

The Maximos Mansion will now operate under a revamped system to curb instances of discord and excessive voices within the administration, all in an effort to enhance efficiency.

The duo leading the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, 44-year-old Christos Dimas and 37-year-old Konstantinos Kyranakis, faces the daunting challenge of resolving deep-rooted issues in an electrifying portfolio.

Dimas, having served as Deputy Minister in various ministries (Development, Culture, Finance), was recognized for his effectiveness, while a similar rationale applied to Kyranakis, who successfully managed the Land Registry. In the same vein, 41-year-old Giorgos Kotsiras replaces Dimas at the Finance Ministry, moving from Foreign Affairs, after initially entering the cabinet as Deputy Minister of Justice before the 2023 elections.

The Case of Papastavrou

An intriguing appointment is that of Stavros Papastavrou as Minister of Environment and Energy.

Papastavrou was ousted from the government a year ago when he visited a businessman’s residence amid tensions with the administration. At the time, it was said that he had violated government protocol, and when the meeting was made public, he was removed along with Giannis Bratakos.

However, a lot has changed since then, and Papastavrou remained within the Prime Minister’s broader circle.

As a lawyer with ties to major business groups, his potential appointment had initially sparked backstage reactions. Nonetheless, Mitsotakis, recognizing his political profile, entrusted him with a ministry of European significance, replacing Theodoros Skylakakis while also appointing his advisor, Nikos Tsafos, as Deputy Minister instead of Alexandra Sdoukou.

More Transfers with a Youthful Emphasis

Pierrakakis’s transfer to the Finance Ministry resulted in the appointment of Sofia Zacharaki as Minister of Education.

Zacharaki is widely liked in public perception and had been leading the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, where she implemented several social initiatives.

She previously served as Deputy Minister of Education during Mitsotakis’s first term.

Filling her role at the Ministry of Social Cohesion is 37-year-old Domna Michailidou, returning to government after her tenure at the Ministry of Labor, while also expecting her first child in the coming months.

At the key post of Civil Protection, 42-year-old Giannis Kefalogiannis takes over as minister following a successful tenure as Deputy Minister of Defense, replacing Vasilis Kikilias, who moves to Shipping and Island Policy.

In the same generational category, his deputy, Kostas Katsafados, returns to government, while Theodoros Livanios remains as Minister of the Interior.

MP Rotation

The reshuffle significantly reshuffled the New Democracy parliamentary group, as several deputy ministers were replaced by MPs.

However, there was no actual downsizing of the government, nor was the anticipated replacement of non-MP ministers with parliamentary members confirmed.

Indeed, the non-MP Panos Tsakloglou was removed from the Labor Ministry and replaced by MP Anna Efthymiou, yet at the Education Ministry, the promotion of former Secretary-General Nikos Papaioannou and at the Development Ministry, Aris Doxiadis replacing Zoi Rapti, showed a mixed approach.

Among the experienced MPs who were appointed are Thanasis Davakis (Deputy Minister of Defense), Lazaros Tsavdaridis (Deputy Minister of Development), Anna Karamanli (Tourism Minister), and Giannis Lambropoulos (Deputy Minister of Citizen Protection)—a longtime political rival of Antonis Samaras in Messinia.

Another new entry is Sevi Voloudakis, appointed as Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum, replacing Sofia Voultepsi.

Changes in the Party

In parallel, structural changes are underway in the New Democracy party, as Chios MP Notis Mitarakis is expected to take over as party secretary, replacing Maria Syreggela after a meeting of the Political Committee.

His role will focus on party reorganization ahead of the 2027 elections, with the first major milestone being the internal party elections for local organizations, leading up to the party congress in the coming months.