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New Greek deputy transport minister sworn in after predecessor quits over farmers' protest remark

Xinhua, February 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Greece instated new deputy transport minister Marina Chyssoveloni after her predecessor Panagiotis Sgouridis resigned over remarks he made about the ongoing farmers protest.

Both Chryssoveloni and Sgouridis are members of the right-wing Independent Greeks party which has co-ruled with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's Syriza party since January 2015.

Sgouridis tendered his resignation after a statement he made during a local radio interview last Wednesday wherein he suggested Tsipras had "deceived" farmers in order to win the elections.

The comment was: "Unless you make promises, nobody will vote for you. I am a veteran in politics and I do not count my words. We must tell the truth at some point," he said, agreeing with the journalist on air that "Tsipras misled voters just like his predecessors."

Sgouridis issued a statement following the stir his remark triggered, apologizing for the "use of an unfortunate phrase." He eventually stepped down, vowing to continue supporting the government.

His resignation sparked scenarios of a possible wider cabinet reshuffle, as local media commented that the Greek leader may try to breathe new life into his government which, according to the latest opinion polls, has steadily trailed behind the main opposition conservative party since the start of this year.

Meanwhile, farmers who have set up more than 65 blockades nationwide with their tractors at key national motorways junctions and customs offices since mid-January, continue their mobilizations against the government's draft bills for the reform of the pension system and taxation.

A meeting between a delegation of protesters and Tsipras on Monday to discuss the reforms ended inconclusive.

The government's proposals for the gradual introduction of tax hikes and increases in farmers' contributions to social security funds did not please the protesters who demand the withdrawal of the entire plan, claiming that its implementation will lead them to "economic asphyxiation."

Several protesters appear angry for yet another reason: they feel that Syriza and Tsipras indeed made false promises to them before the elections.

Syriza came to power pledging to tear up the harsh bailout deals with Greece's international lenders and put an end to austerity, but last summer the government signed a new bailout agreement, as the country was facing the danger of an imminent default and possible Grexit.

Under the new bailout, the reform of an unsustainable pension system is a key prerequisite this year for the disbursement of further aid to Athens.

As the new minister was sworn in on Wednesday, groups of farmers attempted to seal off Thessaloniki airport in northern Greece by blockading surrounding roads, while another group of protesters was planning to cut off the traffic to the Athens international airport for an hour.

According to estimates of the Panhellenic Exporters Association, the blockades may be costing the Greek economy up to 30 million euros (33.08 million U.S. dollars) a day. Endit