VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - Alexis Tsipras, 40, the new Prime Minister of Greece will announce his cabinet members shortly. Economics professor Yanis Varoufakis is expected to be the minister for finance, and Criminology Professor Yiannis Panousis, the minister for Defence.
Varoufakis, 53, was educated in the U.K and taught in U.S., Greece and Australia. He is a prolific blogger and media commentator. He quit his job in the University of Texas to join Tsipras' election campaign.
Leftist Tsipras won the election by offering a turnaround from austerity and debt crisis. His party has been condemning austerity as 'fiscal waterboarding.'
According to media reports, Tsipras government will raise the minimum wage to 751 euros per month and shall introduce a policy for collective wage bargaining. It is expected that his government will try to reduce overdue taxes and social security contributions.
Meanwhile, head of eurogroup finance ministers Jeroen Dijsselbloem will visit Athens on Friday, probably to discuss the future of the bailout. IMF is also planning for discussion with the new government.
European Union said if Greece fails to meet its austerity and debt commitments, it will risk its place in the eurozone. British Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the new government's intention to tackle corruption and increase tax transparency.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX