Government sources told the paper that the Premier would likely put back an anticipated cabinet reshuffle until after June 28-30, when conservative New Democracy is to hold a congress, or even later.

The Premier currently has more pressing concerns, chiefly overseeing the implementation of reforms voted into law including the politically sensitive process of merging and abolishing state organizations, as well as speeding up the privatization programme.

The Euro Working Group approved the disbursement of EUR 2.8 billion tranche of March. On May 13, the Eurogroup will meet to approve the EUR 4.2 billion tranche of the first quarter of 2013, while in late May Greece expects the IMF Executive Board approval to disburse another EUR 1.8 billion.

On May 20, Greece will have to repay bonds of EUR 5.6 billion held by ECB, which is expected to occur smoothly as the disbursement of EUR 4.2 billion from EFSF will provide the bulk of this issuing.

Finance ministry in an announcement said Euro Working Group meeting approved a EUR 2.8 billion tranche and paved the way for the EUR 6 billion of the tranche expected to be approved by Eurogroup on May 13.

“There was a positive appraisal of the implementation of the Greek program and clear references to the government’s determination to proceed with reforms.”

Meanwhile, GSEE, the confederation of Greek workers, has announced a 24-hour strike to take place on the 1st of May.

The strike is in response to the government’s decision to move the holiday to the 7th of May. A number of individual unions and federations have already announced similar plans, such as PAME.

Athens Metro employees union has announced a walkout from the beginning of their shift until 9am. In their announcement they explain that “May the 1st is a strike, not a holiday”, while adding that “we operate for the striking workers, so that they can easily travel and participate in demonstrations, marches and protests.

Also, Panhellenic maritime worker federation PNO has announced a 24-hour strike of all crews, of all ship categories, which will begin midnight.

The forecast is based on the assumption that New Democracy (Samaras) will increase its electorate by around 1 million voters, receiving votes from a decrease in abstinence, and inflows from Independent Greeks (Kammenos) and Golden Dawn (Mihaloliakos) parties, as well as other minor parties, whose voters moved towards ND, i.e. Democratic Alliance (Dora Bakoyannis), Drasi (Manos) and Re-Create Greece (Tzimeros).

As regards SYRIZA (Tsipras), it will see an increase in its electorate power that will remain under 550,000 people, as compared with May results.

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Ioannis Kamaras (PhD Economics, Sussex University) is a former Director, Bank of Greece. In the late 1990s, he served as a Commissioner of the -then- Bank of Crete, during the Koskotas scandal.