ATHENS – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday sacked his minister for public order following sharp criticism of the government’s response to a spate of summer wildfires.
In August, the country lost more than a quarter of a million hectares of pine forests to fire that burned for several days, with flames reaching the outskirts of Athens, destroying homes and businesses, killing two people and forcing thousands to evacuate, Reuters reported.
Responding to the challenge, Mitsotakis swiftly moved to reshuffle his cabinet.
He replaced Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis with Takis Theodorikakos, a political analyst and former interior minister.
The Minister of Health Vassilis Kikilias was switched to tourism in place of Harry Theoharis.
The Prime Minister also announced the creation of a Civil Protection Ministry to be headed by Evangelos Apostolakis, a retired admiral and former defence minister.
