A new Cabinet arising from a sweeping reshuffle by Prime Minister George Papandreou, announced shortly after midnight, was sworn in at noon on Tuesday. After the customary swearing-in ceremony, which was officiated by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece and held in the presence of President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias and the premier, the new ministers, seven alternate ministers and 24 deputy ministers -- 48 in total -- were expected to head to their respective ministries to take over the new portfolios from their predecessors. Yiannis Diamantidis, who will head the Maritime Affairs, Islands and Fisheries Ministry -- essentially the re-established merchant marine ministry -- and deputy minister Elpida Tsouri were not sworn in, and will assume their duties after the signing of the relevant Presidential Decree establishing the new ministry.
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