Misjudgements, poor choices, indecisiveness, corrective moves, preparations for the 2028 presidential election, outreach to DISY, communication tactics. Regardless of the reasons, causes, or motivations, the third reshuffle in approximately three and a half years of Nikos Christodoulides' administration became a reality on the afternoon of last Tuesday, and the new members of the Council of Ministers officially begin work today following the customary swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Palace.
From the three occasions, thus far, on which Nikos Christodoulides proceeded with changes to the composition of the Council of Ministers, significant conclusions emerge regarding the individuals involved, the duration of their service, and those ministers who have remained effectively untouchable.
Although, with the first reshuffle carried out in early January 2024, Nikos Christodoulides sought to send the message that the established practice of waiting until the completion of 18 months in office would not be followed during his presidency, his subsequent actions demonstrated that this traditional “entitlement” remains part of the equation.
Of all the individuals who wore the ministerial mantle at the direction of Nikos Christodoulides, only six will not receive ministerial pension benefits because they failed to remain in office for at least 18 months. These are former Defence Minister Michalis Giorgallas, former Agriculture Minister Petros Xenophontos, former Justice Minister Anna Prokopiou Koukides, former Health Minister Popi Kanari, and former Deputy Minister for Innovation Philippos Hadjizacharias. Added to this list is former Deputy Minister of Culture Michalis Hadjigiannis, who resigned approximately four and a half months after his appointment.
It should also be noted that Mr Hadjizacharias had submitted his resignation before the reshuffle. In September 2023, the government experienced another departure, that of Deputy Government Spokesperson Doxa Komodromou, who resigned following controversy over overtime payments she had received and was replaced by Yiannis Antoniou, who remains in the position.
Following the first reshuffle in January 2024, all ministers who were subsequently removed from the government line-up had already reached and completed the 18-month threshold required to enjoy the pension benefits attached to the post.
On 5 December 2025, after weeks of speculation, Nikos Christodoulides announced the second reshuffle of his presidency. The limited reshuffle included ministerial departures and transfers. George Papanastasiou left the post of Minister of Energy, while Yiannis Panayiotou departed as Minister of Labour. Marios Hartsiotis was removed from the Ministry of Justice and appointed Commissioner of the Presidency, while Deputy Minister of Welfare Marilena Evangelou left the government.
As for transfers, Michalis Damianos moved from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Energy, Costas Fytiris assumed the Ministry of Justice, and Neophytos Charalambides took over the Ministry of Health. Marinos Mousiouttas became Minister of Labour, while Clea Papaellina was appointed Deputy Minister of Welfare.
With 2028 on the Horizon...
The new ministers assuming office today have, by a narrow margin, the opportunity to complete 18 months in office before the current government's term expires in February 2028.
Specifically, they will remain in their positions for exactly 18 months and a few additional days. Therefore, barring any resignations, the new Minister of Transport, Evanthia Tsolaki, the new Minister of Agriculture, Christos Senekis, and the new Deputy Minister of Welfare, Tina Pavlou, are expected to reach the qualifying threshold for a ministerial pension.
Clea Papaellina, who in the latest reshuffle was transferred from the Deputy Ministry of Welfare to the Deputy Ministry of Culture, will complete the 18-month requirement sooner because her service is counted from her initial appointment in December 2025.
The Untouchables
Four ministers, the Government Spokesperson, and three deputy ministers fall into the category of those who remained untouched throughout all of the President's decisions to alter the government line-up.
Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou, and Government Spokesperson Constantinos Letymbiotis continue in the same positions to which they were appointed by the President of the Republic in March 2023.
In the same category are Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki, Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hadjimanolis, Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis, as well as the Director of the Press Office of the President of the Republic, Victoras Papadopoulos.
