The Second Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras was sworn in on 23 September 2015, following the Greek legislative election in September 2015. Alexis Tsipras, leader of Syriza, was sworn in as Prime Minister of Greece on 21 September, having agreed to re-form the coalition with Panos Kammenos and the Independent Greeks.
On 16 June 2018 the Hellenic Parliament rejected a motion of no confidence against the government with a 127–153 vote.
Background
The First Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras was formed following the legislative election in January 2015, and was a coalition of Syriza and the Independent Greeks. Most notably, the government had to deal with the Greek government-debt crisis, but was also responsible for the early July bailout referendum. Throughout the duration of their term, their main responsibility was re-negotiating the terms of the third bailout package.
During the vote on the third bailout package in the Hellenic Parliament, a number of Syriza MPs voted against the package resulting in the government officially losing its majority. For this reason, Tsipras and the government resigned on 20 August and called for a snap election to take place on 20 September. Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the President of Greece had to allow for all the opposition parties to attempt to form a government of their own, but none of them had sufficient numbers of MPs. Subsequently, a caretaker cabinet led by Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou was formed on 27 August to lead the country into the election.
During the election campaign period, opinion polls had suggested that Syriza and New Democracy, led by Vangelis Meimarakis, were neck and neck, with some polls showing New Democracy ahead and others showing Syriza ahead. The exit polls generally showed that Syriza was on 30–34%, and New Democracy was on 28.5–32.5%.
Formation
At approximately 12:00 GMT on 21 September, Tsipras met with Panos Kammenos, his former coalition partner, at the Syriza party HQ in Athens. At the meeting, they discussed the make-up of the new cabinet.
Composition
Prime minister Office Incumbent Party In office since Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras Syriza 21 September 2015 Deputy Prime Minister Yannis Dragasakis Syriza 23 September 2015
Ministerial responsibilities
Alternate Ministers are directly assigned special responsibilities and powers by the prime minister, including: full parliamentary powers and, in conjunction with the minister, the legislative initiative the right to issue individual and normative acts, and to propose individual and normative decrees
Full ministers however retain: the identification of ministerial policy in the cabinet the representation in bodies of the European Union the appointment of administrative agencies, public services and personnel
Deputy ministers are assigned with responsibilities and powers by the prime minister and the full minister they report to.
Ministry Office Incumbent Party In office since 1.Ministry of the Interior and Administrative Reconstruction Minister of the Interior and Administrative Reconstruction Panagiotis Kouroumblis Syriza 23 September 2015 Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administrative Reconstruction Yannis Balafasa Syriza 23 September 2015 Alternate Minister of Administrative Reform Christoforos Vernardakis Syriza 23 September 2015 Alternate Minister of Citizen Protection Nikos Toskas Syriza 23 September 2015 – 3 August 2018 Alternate Minister of Immigration Policy Ioannis Mouzalas Independent 28 August 2015 Deputy Minister for Macedonia and Thrace Maria Kollia-Tsarouchaa ANEL 23 September 2015 – 29 August 2018 2.Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism Giorgos Stathakis Syriza 23 September 2015 Alternate Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura Independent 23 September 2015 Deputy Minister of National Strategic Reference Framework Issues Alexis Charitsisa Syriza 23 September 2015 Deputy Minister of Industry Theodora Tzagria Syriza 23 September 2015 3.Ministry of National Defence Minister of National Defence Evangelos Apostolakis Military 13 January 2019 Alternate Minister of National Defence Dimitris Vitsas Syriza 23 September 2015 4.Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs Minister of Education, Research and Religious Affairs Nikos Filis Syriza 23 September 2015 – 5 November 2016 Alternate Minister of Education, Research and Religious Affairs Sia Anagnostopoulou Syriza 23 September 2015 Alternate Minister of Research and Innovation Kostas Fotakis Independent 23 September 2015 Deputy Minister of Education, Research and Religious Affairs Theodosis Pelegrinis Syriza 23 September 2015 5.Ministry of Environment and Energy Minister of Environment and Energy Panos Skourletis Syriza 23 September 2015 Alternate Minister of Environment and Energy Giannis Tsironis OP 23 September 20156.Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights Nikos Paraskevopoulos Syriza 23 September 2015 Alternate Minister of Corruption Issues Dimitris Papangelopoulos Independent 23 September 2015 7.Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias Syriza 23 September 2015 – 17 October 2018Alternate Minister of European Affairs Nikos Xydakis Syriza 23 September 2015 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Amanatidisa Syriza 23 September 2015 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitris Mardasa Syriza 23 September 2015 8.Ministry of Finance Minister of Finance Euclid Tsakalotos Syriza 23 September 2015 Alternate Minister of Finance Tryfon Alexiadis Syriza 18 July 2015 Alternate Minister of Finance Giorgos Houliarakis Independent 23 September 2015 9.Ministry of Labour, Social Insurance and Social SolidarityMinister of Labour, Social Insurance and Social Solidarity Georgios Katrougalos Syriza 23 September 2015 Alternate Minister of Social Solidarity Theano Fotiou Syriza 23 September 2015 Alternate Minister for Combatting Unemployment Rania Antonopoulou Syriza 23 September 2015 – 26 Febr 2018washingtonpost.com: Greece: Wealthy minister quits after rent subsidy furor Deputy Minister of Social Insurance Issues Anastasios Petropoulosa Syriza 23 September 2015 10.Ministry of Health Minister of Health Andreas Xanthos Syriza 23 September 2015 Alternate Minister of Health Pavlos Polakis Syriza 23 September 2015 11.Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Christos Spirtzis Independent 23 September 2015Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Dimitris Kammenosa ANEL 23 September 2015 – 23 September 2015 Panagiotis Sgouridisa ANEL 24 September 2015 – 23 February 2016 Marina Chrissovelonia ANEL 24 February 2016 12.Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Thodoris Dritsas Syriza 23 September 2015 13.Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Evangelos Apostolou Syriza 23 September 2015 Alternate Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Markos Bolaris Syriza 23 September 2015 14.Ministry of Culture and Sports Minister of Culture and Sports Aristides Baltas Syriza 23 September 2015 Deputy Minister of Sports Stavros Kontonis Syriza 23 September 2015 – 29 August 2018
Ministers of State
Rank Office Incumbent Party In office since 1. Minister of State Nikos Pappas Syriza 23 September 2015 2. Minister of State for Coordinating Government Operations Alekos Flambouraris Syriza 23 September 2015 Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Terence Quicka ANEL 23 September 2015 – 4 November 2016 Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Government Spokesperson Dr Olga Gerovassili Syriza 23 September 2015
Bold denotes full ministers attending the weekly cabinet council. a Deputy ministers are not members of the cabinet but may attend cabinet meetings. References:
References