Ministers of the new Greek government led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis take part in the swearing-in ceremony at the presidential mansion in Athens, Greece, on July 9, 2019. Greece's new cabinet was sworn in on Tuesday at the presidential mansion in Athens with ministers voicing confidence that they can bring change and succeed in key challenges for the still debt-ridden country, starting from the economy. (Xinhua/Panagiotis Moschandreou)
ATHENS, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Greece's new cabinet was sworn in on Tuesday at the presidential mansion in Athens with ministers voicing confidence that they can bring change and succeed in key challenges for the still debt-ridden country, starting from the economy.
The new line-up which comes following the conservative's sweeping victory in Sunday's general elections, the first held in Greece after the exit from the bailout era last summer, consists of 51 members.
Among experienced party heavyweights are also 21 non-parliamentarians who were appointed by new Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for their technocratic background. Most of the members of the new cabinet who were not candidates in Sunday's elections, are newcomers in politics.
One of the key figures in the cabinet is Christos Staikouras, who was sworn in as Finance Minister on Tuesday. He had served in the same ministry as deputy in 2012-2015.
Nikos Dendias assumes the portfolio of the Foreign Ministry and Yannis Plakiotakis is the new Shipping and Island Policy Minister.
"It is obvious that we are going to cooperate both with China, with the United States and with our allies, so we are optimistic that we are going to give the maritime sector the place that it deserves," Plakiotakis told Xinhua and other media upon his arrival at the presidential mansion for the swearing-in ceremony, when asked about the future cooperation with Chinese investors at Piraeus port.
"We are going to transform our country to the most business friendly country of the region. We are open for all the investments from China," Adonis Georgiadis, the new Development and Investments minister, said on his part.
The new cabinet will hold its first meeting Wednesday and the parliament will be asked to give confidence vote for the new government on July 21.
