Roundup: SYRIZA-led coalition gov't sworn in, promising new direction for country

Greece's new radical left SYRIZA-led cabinet was sworn in on Tuesday with several ministers expressing determination to change the course of the debt-burdened country.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to outline the priorities of the coalition government with the right-wing Independent Greeks (ANEL) party during the first cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

In statements to the press after the swearing in ceremony held at the presidential mansion in Athens, key members such as new Minister of Health Panagiotis Kouroublis appeared confident that "hope arrived and will become reality."

TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS AHEAD

The spotlight was on new Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis who will hold a crucial role in talks with international lenders regarding post-bailout collaboration and the new government's request for further relief of Greek debt.

"We will make it," he said on Tuesday.

A newcomer in politics, Varoufakis is regarded by political analysts in Athens as a realist who will bargain hard.

Tsipras and the architects of SYRIZA's economic program have assured in recent remarks that Greece's membership of the European Union and the eurozone was not at risk.

There will be a reversal of austerity measures implemented since 2010 to address a debt crisis which brought Greece to the brink of default, they said, in order to deal with record high unemployment rates and boost growth.

There will be harsh negotiations with lenders over bailout terms, but there will not be a collision and catastrophe, as markets and financial analysts have predicted.

That is the message to be conveyed to Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who is expected to visit Athens on Friday and European Parliament President Martin Schulz who visits on Thursday.

FIRM HAND ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Tsipras had a telephone communication on Tuesday with EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, expressing discontent over an announcement she made in the name of "EU heads of state and governments" without consulting Greece.

Mogherini warned Russia of more sanctions for "supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine."

The Greek prime minister's office issued a statement underlining that the announcement was made "without having the consent of Greece."

Professor of Political Theories of International Studies Nikos Kotzias, who was sworn in as the new Foreign Affairs Minister on Tuesday, added that the message was that "European counterparts should be cooperating in a democratic manner."

FUTURE DIRECTION

The new ruling coalition has introduced a smaller cabinet compared to previous governments with 10 ministries and 40 ministers and deputy ministers down from 46 in the outgoing coalition.

The New Democracy party of former prime minister Antonis Samaras expressed concern "for the participation of MPs who have expressed dangerous positions on growth, privatizations and canceling of investments."

Other media commentators and representatives of the business world in Athens saw a "historic opportunity" for fresh effective policies implemented by the government.

The new government headed by 40-year-old Tsipras is the first left- led government in Greece in six decades. SYRIZA's and ANEL's anti-austerity policy program marks a turning point in the handling of the debt crisis, efforts to restore stability and growth.

"In the days to come, you are called to make decisions that will lift uncertainty for our country's ability to meet its European prospects and bring back confidence in the Greek economy," Hellenic Federation of Enterprises chairman Theodore Fessas said.

"In a crucial conjuncture for the country, the popular mandate gives you the authority and the power to lead the country safely and with self-confidence to a much-needed social and economic growth," he underlined. Endit