ATHENS — The leftist-led coalition that won Greece’s elections unveiled its government on Tuesday, with the crucial post of finance minister going to an economist who has called the eurozone’s austerity policies “fiscal waterboarding.”
The new finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, a professor and avid blogger, will confront Greece’s international creditors in tough talks over the austerity policies, widely despised by the Greeks. Those talks could have profound consequences for Greece, the future of the euro currency and the financial integration of the European Union.
Twenty-two ministries have been streamlined to 10 in the new cabinet, all but one held by members of Syriza, the radical-left party that won the most votes in the Sunday elections and that has vowed to renegotiate the country’s onerous debts.
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In another jolt to the Greek establishment, the new government proposed that the role of Parliament speaker go to Zoe Konstantopoulou of Syriza, a tough-talking lawyer who has had furious clashes in the House with leading figures from the two main parties that dominated Greek politics for decades, New Democracy and Pasok.
The appointment must be approved by a vote in Parliament.
