The cabinet reshuffle comes two days after junior coalition Democratic Left partner pulled out in protest over the sudden closure of state broadcaster ERT, downsizing the ruling majority in parliament.

According to an announcement by government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou, Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras kept his post in the cabinet reshuffle while socialist PASOK party Evangelos Venizelos assumed the posts of deputy prime minister and foreign minister. Outgoing foreign minister Dimitris Avramopoulos  assumed the post of Minister of Defense.

The two-party coalition government now has a slender majority in parliament; it controls 153 seats of the 300 seats.

The number of ministries in Samaras’ cabinet was increased from 17 to 19.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras sparked a crisis when he decided to abruptly shut down state broadcaster ERT on June 11, which is part of the Greek government’s unpopular austerity measures.

Meanwhile, the nearly 2,700 suspended staff at ERT have continued demonstrations in front of the main broadcaster center in Athens and offices in the northern port city of Thessaloniki.

The Greek government claimed ERT had become a haven of waste. ERT began broadcasting in 1938, running three domestic TV channels, four national radio stations, as well as regional radio stations and an external service, Voice of Greece.

The new cabinet is due to be sworn in Tuesday morning by President Karolos Papoulias during a ceremony at the presidential palace.

A recent piece of legislation that envisaged new Ministers’ Deputies posts in six ministers has triggered new discussions on the matter. The government has announced that the new positions will be in the Ministries of Administrative Reform, Justice, Public Order, Tourism, Shipping, Macedonia-Thrace and Education-Culture. Officially it is argued that posts were created to match new organisational charts of ministries.

At the same time, opinion polls continue to suggest a relative tie between ND and SYRIZA.

According to media writings, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras understands that time is running out and he is now faced with dilemmas that should give urgent answers.

It is clear that the PM was not entirely pleased by all of his Ministries, so this way he can provide a solution, as well as appease PASOK’s request for greater participation in the government, tovima.gr writes.

By creating these new positions the Prime Minister will be able to introduce a number of his trusted partners, without having to replace any of the current ministers. That way he can reinvigorate the government and take advantage of the fresh perspective of new members, without any delays.

This is especially important for Ministries on tight timetables, such as the Ministry of Labor. The Minister can now focus on the public sector dismissals program, while his soon-to-be-appointed deputy will assist in other matters.

Based on the introduction of the new spots, many estimate that a wider cabinet reshuffle might happen after Easter. After all, both the Prime Minister and his government partners Evangelos Venizelos and Fotis Kouvelis have agreed that changes are necessary.

Government sources told journalists that in his meeting with troika tomorrow [Mar 7], Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will move under the logic that “we continue to negotiate on whatever is not working.” PM’s office stresses the prime minister will tell the lenders’ representatives that there can be no further austerity measures, insisting on strengthening the country’s development prospects by targeting investment and employment growth.

Government sources told protothema.gr that the coming months will be crucial for the future of the austerity programme as the country is at a crossroads and troika must stop pushing things further, since the Greek society will not be able to bear the pressure.

The main remain that of the VAT reduction in catering and the excise tax on fuel that has sent its price soaring and consumption on a downward path.

Regarding the issue of redundancies in the public sector, Samaras will insist on promoting the government’s programme of availability, considering that beyond any social unrest that can be caused by a wave of layoffs, there will be a question of social stability, if one takes into account the reactions of the other two governmental partners.

The economic team will also present arrangements to relieve the indebted households and a programme to transfer funds in order to support and relief the unemployed.

Troika people meet today with Yannis Stournaras, and tomorrow, they will be received by PM Samaras. The meetings are expected to be completed by Sunday [Mar 10], when troika will leave to prepare its evaluation report.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is set to decide in the coming days on whether to reshuffle the Cabinet after PASOK leader and coalition partner Evangelos Venizelos, declared that he was ready to put active Socialist politicians in the government, Kathimerini writes.

However, Greek government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said there was no truth to reports that Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was planning to change the ministers in his government.

“There is no issue at all of a reshuffle, period,” Kedikoglou said in an e-mailed statement, Bloomberg reported.