previous news was posted at 12:19
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou appointed current Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos as the country's new finance minister in a cabinet reshuffle Friday, a government spokesperson said, DPA reported.
Papandreou has tried to suppress the escalating turmoil within his own Socialist party amid riots in the capital and a national strike earlier this week, by announcing the cabinet reshuffle in an effort to gather support for painful economic reforms to avoid default.
Venizelos, who replaces George Papaconstantinou as finance minister, was once Papandreou's biggest rival after challenging him for leadership of the Socialist party after losing elections in 2007.
Papaconstantinou was moved to the Ministry of Environment under the reshuffle.
Venizelos has previously held the posts of government spokesperson, culture minister, development minister and justice minister.