Three times during the 3.5 years he has been governing the country, Nikos Christodoulides has had to reshuffle his cabinet.
In 2023, upon taking office, he emphasized the need for technocrats to head the ministries. Less than a year later, on January 8, 2024, while the National Council was in session, he carried out his first cabinet reshuffle.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Michalis Giorgallas handed over the reins of the Ministry of Defense to Vasilis Palmas.
The Ministry of Justice passed from Anna Koukkidi Prokopiou to Marios Hartsoti.
The Ministry of Agriculture is being handed over from Petros Xenophontos to Maria Panagiotou.
The Ministry of Health, previously headed by Popi Kanari, is now led by Michalis Damianos.
And the Deputy Ministry of Research and Innovation is moving from Filippos Hatzizacharias to Nikodimos Damianou.
READ ALSO: The President’s “Farewell”: Alexis, “ready to take a bullet”; the hardworking Maria; and the tireless Lina
The highlight of the day of the handover of the ministries at that time was the awkwardness that prevailed between Popi Kanari and the then Director General of the Ministry of Health, Christina Giannaki. A ministry that today nearly changed hands for the fourth time.
Earlier, just before completing five months at the helm of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, Michalis Hatzigiannis submitted his resignation. Vasiliki Kassianidou is taking the helm.
All six ministers and deputy ministers who were replaced in 2024 did not complete 18 months in office; therefore, they will not receive ministerial retirement benefits.
After prolonged speculation, on Friday, December 5, 2025, Nikos Christodoulides returned from Ukraine following the second reshuffle of his cabinet.
George Papanastasiou is stepping down from the Ministry of Energy, and Michalis Damianos is taking over; Damianos is leaving his position at the Ministry of Health vacant.
Neophytos Charalambides then becomes the head of the ministry.
At the Ministry of Labor, Marinos Mousiouttas succeeds Yiannis Panagiotou.
At the Ministry of Justice, Kostas Fytiris takes over for Hartsotis, and Klea Hatzistefanou Papaellina is being filled by Klea Hatzistefanou Papaellina.
READ ALSO: New Ministers and Deputy Ministers Have Taken Over Their Portfolios and Are “Rolling Up Their Sleeves” (VIDEO)
On the day of the handover, the outgoing ministers did not fail to express their obvious bitterness over the President’s decision.
“Work for this country, my friends. Work for this country, and for no other.”
George Papanastasiou – Former Minister of Energy
“However, since life sometimes takes a sudden turn, as Marinos takes over the reins, he will also take over the groundwork we’ve laid on several issues.”
Yiannis Panagiotou – Former Minister of Labor
“It was a journey spanning more than four years, filled with struggles, nonstop work, very little sleep, no rest or vacations, deprivation of family and peace of mind, but full of experiences and service. My family is eager to make up for the lost time—more than four years.”
Marilena Evangelou – Former Deputy Minister of Social Welfare
The cabinet, as all indications suggest, took its final form today—a structure that will remain in place until 2028. There are now more politicians than technocrats in the cabinet, something the President of the Republic had promised before his election.
The following ministers from the beginning of Christodoulides’ administration remain in office:
- Konstantinos Kompos – Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- Makis Keravnos – Minister of Finance.
- Konstantinos Ioannou – Minister of the Interior.
- Athina Michaelidou – Minister of Education.
- Irini Piki – Deputy Minister to the President.
- Marina Hatzimanoli – Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs.
- Kostas Koumis – Deputy Minister of Tourism.
Watch Kleio Vourkou’s report:
