Anastasios Petropoulos

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras reshuffled his cabinet late on Friday, removing ministers who have expressed opposition to the austerity measures and economic measures demanded by Greece’s international creditors, but retaining his ministers of finance and foreign affairs.

The new Greek government was announced by spokesperson Olga Gerovasili, Friday at 10pm. Minister of Education Nikos Filis was left out of the new government, paying the price for his open disagreement with the head the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop of Athens Ieronymos.

Alternate Labor Minister Anastasios Petropoulos told Parliament Plenary that social security issues are turning into a major issue for Greece during debate on the State budget for 2016.  He said that the government is being called to implement bailout commitments worth 4.2 bln euros in the coming year, however some of these commitments had been made during the governance of the conservative New

Pensioners from the Shareholders Fund of Civilian Employees (MTPY) could face further 50% slashes to their dividends in a move aimed at affecting 285,000 pensioners. Hence, the pensioners of this fund could see their dividends drop from 136 euros to 68 euros.

The Ministry of Labour refuted the statement of Deputy Minister of Social Security Anastasios Petropoulos who said yesterday that the ministry plans to impose an extraordinary contribution on self-employed as an effort to find the money required for the insurance fund.

Deputy Minister of Social Security Anastasios Petropoulos  pre-announced an extraordinary contribution of at least 100 euros in order to support the insurance fund, which is on the brink of bankruptcy recording a deficit of 530 million euro.

“If we do not take any measures, we will face Armageddon”, Deputy Minister of Social Security Anastasios Petropoulos warned speaking to MEGA TV channel. But, “we are not going to cut, just like that, the pensions of people,” he clarified.