Dimitris Tzanakopoulos

Revelations that a candidate with ruling SYRIZA for the upcoming European Parliament elections has been convicted of defrauding the state fueled a political storm and public outcry on Friday, prompting the woman to pull out of the race.

In a mini cabinet reshuffle announced by spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, Greek Prime Minister Alexis on Friday replaced five of his ministers while giving up his own role as foreign minister, a post he temporarily filed following the departure of Nikos Kotzias in October.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos will make official statements at 13.30 p.m., state-run news agency ANA-MPA said on Friday.

The announcement is expected to be a mini government reshuffle to fill up deputy ministerial posts. 

Greek Parliament will ratify the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's NATO accession protocol under its new name "in the coming days," government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said on Thursday, during a regular press briefing.

With a vote on the Prespes name deal between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) expected in Skopje's Parliament this week, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to have an idea on how to move forward by Friday.

Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos has ruled out the prospect of a vote of confidence in the SYRIZA-led administration in the event that its junior partner, Independent Greeks (ANEL), quits the coalition over its objections to the name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos has expressed his confidence that the SYRIZA-led administration will secure the 151 votes it needs to adopt the name deal signed between Athens and Skopje in the summer.

The contentious name deal between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is expected to be ratified in FYROM's Parliament earlier than expected, possibly by January 10, meaning that the so-called Prespes agreement will come to Greece's House early too, likely triggering political developments.

Greek lawmakers approved the heavily indebted country's budget for 2019 late Tuesday, the first since Greece exited an eight-year bailout program.

The budget lawmakers passed with a 154-143 vote still is heavy on austerity measures to ensure Greece registers a hefty surplus, in compliance with its debt relief deal with international creditors.

Greece will be announcing 10,000 new state sector jobs in 2019, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Thursday in the wake of the announcement Tuesday of a tentative deal with the Church of Greece.