All the PM's men: Who are the favorite contenders in SYRIZA govt's new lineup?

The Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) is readying its new government following the party’s recent election triumph – for the second time this year after its first election win on January 25. The decisive victory is a personal triumph for Alexis Tsipras who, for eight months, took Greece on a rollercoaster ride of dangerous negotiations, a pointless referendum and capital controls before he capitulated on anti-austerity pledges at the eleventh hour to ensure Greece’s future in the EU. Now, the unpredictable leader is called to form a new government whose composition is expected to be different to the one in January after his decision to abandon the fight against austerity and sign a third Greek bailout of harsh reforms.

The role that former deputy prime minister Giannis Dragassakis will play in the new line-up remains a riddle as he has refused the position of Speaker of the House that had previously been occupied by Zoe Konstantopoulou. The most obvious place for Dragassakis, one of the party’s main economists, would be at the Ministry of Finance, but it appears that Euclid Tsakalotos will hold the post even though the latter is also reluctant to return to his previous position.

Dragassakis new portfolio will depend on Nikos Voutsis, who was initially a favorite for the post of Speaker of the House, but may also be retained as Foreign Minister. Other possible candidates for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are Dimitris Vitsas and Panos Skourletis, though the latter has indicated an interest in staying on at the Ministry of Productive Reconstruction.

Alternate Finance Ministers are certain to by Tryfonas Alexiadis and Dimitris Mardas, whereas a finance committee purely for the implementation of the third bailout is being created and will be headed by George Chouliarakis.

George Stathakis is likely to remain as Minister of Development.

Already locked are the following posts:
Nikos Kotzias (Foreign Ministry)
Independent Greeks (ANEL) leader Panos Kammenos (Defence Ministery)
Nikos Paraskevopoulos (Justice Minister)
Nikos Pappas, Alekos Flambouraris, Panagiotis Nikoloudis (State Ministers)
George Katrougalos (Labor Minister)
Christos Spirtzis (Infrastructure Minister)
Christoforos Vernardakis (Alternate Administrative Reform Minister)
Theano Fotiou (Alternative Labor Minister)
Pavlos Polakis (Head of Anti-Corruption at the Ministry of Administrative Reform)

It still remains unknown as to who will be the new Education Minister with both Aristeidis Baltas, Kostas Gavroglou and Kostas Douzinas among the names being considered.

Giannis Panoussis is still a strong possibility for the Ministry of Citizen Protection, but Dimitris Vitsas is also being discussed.

Nikos Xydakis will be a member in the new government, but may not necessarily return to the Ministry of Culture. It is also likely that Gabriel Sakellarides may hold the post of Alternate Foreign Affairs Minister.

George Mouzalas is being considered for the post of Alternate Migrant Policy Minister though he has yet to accept the position.

Thodoros Dritsas may be transfered to the Ministry of Shipping, while Christos Zoe may also remain in the post.

SYRIZA’s spokesperson Olga Gerovasili is likely to remain at her post though she is also being considered for a transfer to the Production Ministry with Nikos Filis.