Reshuffle: Technocrat Schinas takes over the OPEKEPE arena – All the key names revealed

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a mini reshuffle, removing the Minister of Rural Development, Kostas Tsiaras, the Minister of Civil Protection, Giannis Kefalogiannis, and the Deputy Minister of Health, Dimitris Vartzopoulos, as their names are included in the second OPEKEPE case file. The difficult puzzle of Rural Development was tackled with an extra-parliamentary and technocratic solution, appointing former European Commissioner, Margaritis Schinas, as the new minister. In order to avoid any revelations about whether the new minister had contacted OPEKEPE, government sources claimed that the Prime Minister opted for a broader reshuffling of the ministry, confirming Mitsotakis’s strategy to transform the ministry into a modern institution, aligned with the ongoing cleansing process of the government and the proper utilization of European funds.

Government officials emphasized that the restructuring of the primary sector is one of the top three priorities for the fourth term of New Democracy. Therefore, this particular portfolio was entrusted not to a regional MP but to Schinas, the former Vice President of the European Commission.

Similarly, in the Civil Protection Ministry, Giannis Kefalogiannis will be replaced by Evangelos Tournas, the former Chief of the Hellenic Air Force and former Deputy Minister, who is seen as a key figure in enhancing Civil Protection in previous years. To avoid protests regarding the handling of ministers implicated in the OPEKEPE scandal, Chryssos Kellas, who had “escaped” the first case file in June 2025, is now leaving the government, and Makarios Lazaridis, the current Parliamentary Representative of New Democracy, will take over as Deputy Minister of Rural Development.

However, there will be no replacement for Deputy Health Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos, with responsibilities for mental health now transferring to Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis.

Government officials clarified earlier that “we are not talking about ministerial resignations, but about changes in the government structure,” aiming to show that Mitsotakis was the one who removed the ministers whose names appeared in the second OPEKEPE case file.

The Prime Minister decided not to proceed with a broader reshuffle today, despite it being “in the works,” because appointing new MPs to the government could lead to uncertainties about whether their names would appear in future case files coming to Parliament.

The difficult decision regarding Tsiaras was reportedly influenced by his name being referenced by an associate concerning a flooded field during the Daniel disaster. Nevertheless, Mitsotakis chose to replace him for political reasons, as he is the responsible minister.

Regarding whether the MPs named in the case files will appear on New Democracy’s election ballots, government officials stated that it is too early to provide an answer, given that elections are still a year away.

As for the requested lifting of parliamentary immunity in the case file, government officials reminded that, as mentioned by the government spokesman, New Democracy’s principle is to accept requests for the lifting of MPs’ immunity. This was confirmed when the government amended Article 62 of the Constitution during the 2019 Constitutional Revision, making the lifting of immunity mandatory, except in cases related to the exercise of parliamentary work.

Notably, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Giorgos Georgantas is expected to send invitations to parties for a session of the Ethics Committee on Holy Tuesday. The Ethics Committee is responsible for examining the cases of the 11 MPs mentioned in the OPEKEPE case file, while former Ministers Spilios Livanos and Fotini Arampatzi follow a different procedure under Article 86 of the Constitution (Law on Ministers’ Responsibility). After the session, copies of the case file will be provided to the implicated MPs and parties.

Reshuffle Expected in New Democracy Party

According to sources, Kostas Skrekas earlier submitted his resignation from the position of Secretary of the Political Committee of New Democracy to Prime Minister Mitsotakis, a gesture that was appreciated by the Prime Minister, alongside the results of his work.

Skrekas’s duties will be assumed by Stelios Kontadakis, the party’s Organizational Secretary, until the New Democracy Congress, where a new Secretary will be elected.

Additionally, New Democracy’s Parliamentary Representative, Notis Mitarakis, has also resigned. New parliamentary representatives will be announced on Monday, following the appointment of Makarios Lazaridis.

This reshuffle reflects changes in key positions, preparing for both governance and party challenges ahead.