Schinas in Greek MEP re-shuffle

It is rare to see an influential civil servant opt to become a not-so-influential politician but Margaritis Schinas has chosen to give up his job as head of the private office of Markos Kyprianou, the Cypriot who is European commissioner for health, to become an MEP. When Schinas worked for Loyola de Palacio, he used to look after relations with the Parliament, so he ought to know what he is letting himself in for. He joins the Greek delegation of the European People's Party – European Democrats group, filling a vacancy left by Antonis Samaras who was elected to the Greek national parliament. Konstantinos Hatzidakis, who was a leading player on the Parliament's regional policy, transport and tourism committee, has also left to become Greece's minister for transport and telecoms and will be replaced by Manolis Aggelakas. Panagiotis Beglitis, Nikolaos Sifunakis and Marilisa Xenogiannakopoulou of the socialist group are also joining the national parliament and are being replaced by Costas Botopoulos, Marilena Koppa and Anni Podimata. Georgios Karatzaferis from the Independence and Democracy group is also joining the national assembly.