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Greek DefMin Replaced Military Leadership in a Surprising Move
Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Politics
Amid a major political turmoil, a severe economic crisis and the Greek government to allegedly count its last hours, Defense Minister Panos Beglitis decided to replace the leadership of the Greek Armed Forces, in a move that puzzled and left quite some questions unanswered. The Chief of General Staff, and the Chiefs of Navy, Air Force and Land Forces were replaced today in a move condemned by all opposition parties that demand explanations, describe it as “undemocratic” and some even request from the President not to sign the assignment of the new Chiefs.
Greek media report that Beglitis convened an unscheduled meeting of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense, half an hour after PM George Papandreou called for an extraordinary cabinet meeting. To the old military leadership Beglitis apparently said:
“Thank you for your cooperation, but I think it’s time for your replacement. I wanted to do so since last August but due to the problems with Turkey I couldn’t. Now I feel it’s the right time for your replacement.”
The four Army chiefs – Ioannis Yangos (General Staff), Fragkoulis Fragkos (Land Forces), Vasilis Klokoza (Air Force) and Dimitris Eleysiniotis (Navy) – go into retirement.
Chief of General Staff/Defense is now Michalis Kostarakos, Land Forces Konstantinos Zazias, Navy Kosmas Christidis and Air Force Antonis Tsantirakis.
It looks as if Beglitis , Defense Minister since last government reshuffle in June 2011 and since 2009 elections alternate DefMin had problems to cooperate with the Army Chiefs. Sources claim that Beglitis was angry about the Armed Forces in general and how they dealt with the Parade of October 28th in Thessaloniki in particular, as some Armed forces groups insisting on parading although the President had already gone and the parade was officially cancelled. Another incident that bugged Beglitis was the break in by retired offices in the Defense Ministry last month (sorry, not able to find the KTG-article link, right now). The Army had also raised objections in letting soldiers pick up the garbage during the municipality strike.
Other sources speak of replacement of the Four by members of the Armed Forces who are supporters of the loan-agreements.
The term of the old army leadership was due to finish in March 2012. The fourwere holding offices after a similar move in 2009 by then Defense Minister Vaggelis Meimarakis (Nea Dimokratia) short before the 2009 elections. An unexplained move as well. Now conservative Nea Dimokratia stresses it will not accept the replacement and will call back the four Army Chiefs when ND comes to power.
Beglitis decision caused a major discontent within the Armed Forces, who have also seen cuts in their salaries and pensions in times of strict austerity. But the modern (after the military junta 1967-1974) Greek Armed Forces have been trained to be obedient to the laws and the Constitution.
Or, Does Belgitis know more than we do?
For “conspiracy-theorists” FORBES/The Appalling Greek Solution: A Military Coup
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[...] next apparent changes to the head of the Greek armed forces was due in 2013 but apparently this is not the first time the heads of the armed … have been replaced by [...]
i liked elefsiniotis i think its the same guy who was the commanding oficer of my unit, if it is the same guy i wouldnt have pegged him for a dangerous coup guy or anything. from what i remember he was always happy to finish his day or come back from an exercise and go home. its been a while now. but the timing of this change seems too coincidental. the more probable reason in my opinion its that beglitis wants his iwn people in, who said cronyism is over. people he can order about and who depend on him for their position. i always find its bad when the military mixes in politics but its also bad when politicians interfere in the military.
The government of PASOK here in Greece just fires and replaces anyone who don’t like. This is not Democracy they are illegal. They also fired the members of the National Statistic Company when they exposed mr George Papandreou for lying to Europe and for “fixing” the numbers so that we would get help from them. They call them selves socialists but they are nothing more than dictators who blackmail their way through everything. Under the Greek Constitution (article 110) they need the majority of Parliament to agree (180/300) before they sign anything that alters the Constitute and each change must have a 5-year gap between them. They are illegal!!!
[...] which would undoubtedly remove him from power, including declare martial law (there’s circumstantial evidence to support that theory as [...]
[...] the cancellation of October 28th parades, (former) Defense Minister Panos Beglitis replaced the whole military leadership, drawing criticism in Greece, in fact for one reason: because he never convincingly explained the [...]