Ever since the video featuring the now-former Minister of Rural Development was released, Spilius Lebanon to speak of…epic poetry when referring to his narrative Petros Doukas, according to which In 2007, the New Democracy government compensated fire victims in Elis with money from bags, the Kyriakos Mitsotakis He didn't have much leeway.
It was clear that he had to dismiss his minister, which is why he hastened to accept Mr. Livanos’s resignation when it was submitted to him. Thus, it appeared that he was punishing a member of the Cabinet for displaying cynicism and political amorality in public—and, indeed, in full view of the public—except that in the past, such ’offenses“ had even led to expulsions from parliamentary caucuses.
At this stage, however, Kyriakos Mitsotakis did not want to further weaken New Democracy’s parliamentary strength or allow a government crisis to spill over into the party’s parliamentary caucus. From the perspective of narrow political self-interest, he was probably right.
Mr. Livanos’s resignation and his replacement by the former Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, George Georgantas, gives the Prime Minister, at first glance, two advantages.
One has to do with the current situation and the farmers’ protests in Larissa and Aigio. The new minister will want to be given at least a little time to get up to speed on developments, and he will certainly throw himself into the battle to…appease the farmers, having more political capital at his disposal than his predecessor.
We would like to remind you here that Mr. Livanos found himself in the crosshairs of the opposition—primarily the Official Opposition—a few days ago, because He rushed to announce a reduction in the VAT rate on fertilizers to 13%, although this had already been in effect for the past few years.
Furthermore, with the appointment of Giorgos Georgantas to the post of Minister of Rural Development, The Prime Minister is delegating all the responsibilities of the Ministry of Digital Governance to Kyriakos Pierrakakis. Those living in government-controlled Jerusalem knew that Messrs. Pierrakakis and Georgantas had disagreements centered precisely on this issue, which will now, evidently, cease to exist.
But Monday's crisis is still just another crisis for a government that over the past month has found itself in a tight spot over a series of issues, such as its handling of severe weather, pandemic management, and the Ministry of Education’s approval of educational programs of dubious scientific value.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his team at the Prime Minister’s Office believe that by immediately replacing Mr. Livanos, they can secure the much-desired way forward. The coming days will show whether these hopes are well-founded.
By Nikos Giannopoulos
