Coalition governments

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' meeting with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos this afternoon the result of which is the dissolution of Parliament and the proclamation of a general election for 7 July marks the formal start of the electoral campaign.

The prime minister's rationale for calling the snap election is the course of the Greek economy and the need to stabilise it.

Several simple conclusions emerged from last Sunday's elections. SYRIZA was roundly defeated and this defeat was not due exclusively to the name deal with North Macedonia, but also to its style of governance. It paid - with interest - for its lack of emotional intelligence and its tolerance for loathsome behavior like that of Alternate Health Minister Pavlos Polakis.

President Igor Dodon said on Wednesday that MPs have two weeks to establish a governing majority and get parliament functioning again or he will call for early elections.

"If during this period [of two weeks], deputies do not find a consensus and create a parliamentary majority, then the president of Moldova will have to dissolve parliament," Dodon said.

A new round of political acrimony is expected this week as Parliament opens discussions Wednesday on a confidence vote called by the government in response to a censure motion filed by opposition New Democracy Monday against Alternate Health Minister Pavlos Polakis.

Greek MPs are next Friday to decide whether to lift the immunity of former health minister Andreas Loverdos, an MP with Movement for Change (formerly PASOK), who has been implicated in an alleged bribery scandal involving Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis.

Experts see four possible scenarios for a new ruling alliance in Moldova after last month's election. Three of them involve the Democratic Party retaining power.

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.

Six Greek independent lawmakers who backed the government in a confidence vote on January 16 told Parliament President Nikos Voutsis they will approve any future legislation submitted by ruling SYRIZA, thus ensuring its majority in Parliament.

The new members of the government were sworn in on Wednesday afternoon, in a ceremony held in the presence of President Prokopios Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Twelve of the new ministers took a civil oath of office, while seven participated in a short religious swearing-in ceremony led by an Orthodox cleric.

The Greek Cabinet as of August 28, 2018

Prime Minister: Alexis Tsipras
Deputy Prime Minister: Yiannis Dragasakis

Ministry of Interior
Minister: Alexis Haritsis
Deputy Minister: Marina Chrysoveloni
Deputy Minister for Macedonia-Thrace: Katerina Notopoulou