Greece names new finance minister

[June 26, 2012]  ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has named prominent economist Yannis Stournaras as Greece's new finance minister, a day after a banker previously named to the position resigned for health reasons.

Samaras' office made the announcement Tuesday.

Stournaras, 55, is a professor of economics at the University of Athens and spent several years heading the Finance Ministry's Council of Economic Advisors.

The previously-named finance minister in the new coalition government, Vassilis Rapanos, resigned Monday from his hospital bed, where he has been since being rushed to the clinic on Friday.

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AP's earlier story is below.

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Greece's coalition government is expected to name a new finance minister, after the banker appointed to the post resigned for health reasons.

A replacement for Vassilis Rapanos, was expected to be named Tuesday, a day after he said his health would not allow him to fulfill his duties as minister. Rapanos had been named to the post last week but was taken ill and rushed to hospital Friday before being sworn in. Outgoing Finance Minister Giorgos Zanias still holds the title.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, himself recovering at home after a two-day hospital stay for serious eye surgery, was to discuss the issue with the heads of the other parties that comprise the three-party coalition government: the socialist PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos and Democratic Left head Fotis Kouvelis.

[Associated Press]

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