The Greek Prime Minister, Mr Costas Simitis, is expected to make widespread changes to his cabinet today but will keep the popular Foreign Minister, Mr George Papandreou, son of the late Mr Andreas Papandreou.
The shuffle follows a slide in opinion polls this year for Mr Simitis and his party, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok). The government spokesman, Mr Dimitris Reppas, yesterday indicated Mr Papandreou's portfolio was secure by issuing a future travel agenda for the foreign minister, who has helped thaw relations with neighbouring Turkey.
Mr Reppas said Mr Papandreou would go ahead with a number of planned visits abroad, including a two-day trip to Iran on November 2nd-3rd.
Mr Simitis received a strong mandate at a party congress last week with his re-election as party president. He is now expected to fill his new cabinet with like-minded reformists and retire some of the socialist old guard who have been his strongest critics.
The Finance Minister, Mr Yannos Papandoniou, credited with guiding Greece into the euro zone this year, is expected to leave for either the defence or interior ministries. His possible successors are the Development Minister, Mr Nikos Christodoulakis, or the Interior Minister, Dr Vasso Papandreou. But Mr Simitis's arch-rival within the party, the Defence Minister, Mr Akis Tsohatzopoulos, is expected to be moved.