Government conducts mini-reshuffle under pressure

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras gave his cabinet a moderate overhaul on Wednesday, appointing Deputy Prime Minister Yiannis Dragasakis to the post of economy and development minister and bringing in veteran leftist Fotis Kouvelis as alternate defense minister.

The reshuffle was triggered by the resignation of two ministers earlier this week over a row involving state benefits.

Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou quit late Monday after revelations that his wife Rania Antonopoulou, alternate minister for social solidarity, was receiving a rent allowance despite the couple's relative affluence.

Tsipras's chief aim appeared to be to limit the fallout from the mini-crisis without touching his core team as Greece is currently in talks with foreign auditors ahead of the country's scheduled exit from its third bailout program in August.

It is thought that Tsipras...