希腊任命新财政部长

　希腊任命新财政部长

　Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has named a new finance minister in a cabinet reshuffle designed to tackle the country"s crippling debt crisis.

　A government spokesman announced Friday that current Defense Minister Evangelos Venizelos will be the new finance minister, replacing George Papaconstantinou, who moves to the environment ministry.

　European Union economic chief Olli Rehn said Thursday he is confident eurozone ministers will grant a $17 billion loan payment to Greece to prevent Athens from defaulting on its debt.

　Greece has promised to carry out economic reforms in exchange for last year"s $160 billion bailout from the EU and International Monetary Fund.

　Two ruling Socialist Party members of parliament quit Thursday to protest Mr. Papandreou"s handling of the of the economic crisis. Greeks have turned out in droves to a series of nationwide protests against the economy and austerity measures, outraged that they are being asked to make more sacrifices.

　希腊总理潘帕德里欧在一次内阁改组中任命了新财政部长。这次改组是为了应对让希腊经济陷于瘫痪的债务危机。

　希腊政府发言人星期五宣布，现任国防部长维尼泽洛斯将改任财政部长，接替帕帕康斯坦蒂努的职务，而帕帕康斯坦蒂努将在环境部就职。

　欧盟经济事务首脑瑞恩星期四说，他相信欧元区各国的部长将为希腊提供 170 亿美元贷款，以避免希腊拖欠债务。

　希腊已经承诺实行经济改革，以换取欧盟和国际货币基金组织去年为希腊提供 1600 亿美元救助资金。

　希腊执政党社会党的两名议员星期四辞职，抗议潘帕德里欧对经济危机的处理方式。希腊人举行了一系列针对经济状况和紧缩措施的大规模抗议，他们对政府要求自己做出更多牺牲感到愤怒。