Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will name a new cabinet Friday to muster support for painful economic reforms, despite public unrest and a split in his party that could push the country closer to default.He is likely to jettison Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou, author of a belt-tightening program that has fueled public anger, national strikes and a violent demonstration this week on the steps of parliament.
He delayed announcement of the new team late Thursday in what looked like a signal he was struggling to find a suitable person for the key financial post.Three deputies have quit from Papandreou's Socialist Party in as many days in protest at a five-year, 28 billion euro ($39.59 billion) austerity package that the European Union and International Monetary Fund have set as a condition for more aid.Two of the three abandoned Papandreou Thursday following a failed bid to form a ruling coalition with the conservative opposition, but they will be replaced with party loyalists, leaving his thin parliamentary majority intact.
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