Storm over navy chief’s resignation
The storm that broke in the navy leadership following the resignation of Vice Admiral Giorgos Theodoroulakis and his clash with Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, who allegedly wanted to promote supporters, will have serious consequences for the armed forces. Apart from unsettling relations between the armed forces and the Defense Ministry, at what the minister sees as a tense time in Greek-Turkish relations, the crisis has come at a bad time for the government. There is curiosity as to what Theodoroulakis will say at today’s ceremony when he hands over to his successor, Vice Admiral Antonis Antoniadis, who was commander of the fleet and was appointed late Friday. The ministry knows the incident will harm its image among senior officers who want to arrange seniority and promotions. Papantoniou could easily have avoided this hitch had he forgone the ministerial habit of accompanying a move to a new post with the appointment of supporters, and ignoring meritocracy. Theodoroulakis was chosen on the recommendation of the minister’s predecessor, Akis Tsochadzopoulos. Even if Papantoniou’s denial that he provided a list of 10 names of navy officers for retirement and promotion is true, it is still the case that his proposals and unprecedented approach caused the clash. It is no coincidence that there were rumors of a similar list handed to army chief Panayiotis Harvalas just before the last promotions. The list of names for the navy had a strong partisan flavor, and some sources claim that retired admirals who support the government helped draft the list. Theodoroulakis had threatened to resign, but the crisis seemed to have been averted when the council met Friday and, sources say, the premier spoke to the minister that morning. The government obviously expected to settle the matter without resignations. On Friday, Deputy Defense Minister Loukas Apostolidis described the dispute as part of «the usual correct and normal practice of an exchange of opinions between the political leadership and military leadership, which is not only legitimate but also mandatory, according to the regulations and the constitution.» It appeared the chiefs of staff had reached a compromise, but Theodoroulakis went ahead and resigned, saying his views had not been accepted. The minister reacted strongly, and supported his ministry’s right to elect officers. His colleagues commented that Theodoroulakis had wanted to appoint all 10 officers who make up the Supreme Naval Council. The government obviously expected to settle the matter without resignations. On Friday, Deputy Defense Minister Loukas Apostolidis described the dispute as part of «the usual correct and normal practice of an exchange of opinions between the political leadership and military leadership, which is not only legitimate but also mandatory, according to the regulations and the constitution.» It appeared the chiefs of staff had reached a compromise, but Theodoroulakis went ahead and resigned, saying his views had not been accepted. The minister reacted strongly, and supported his ministry’s right to elect officers. His colleagues commented that Theodoroulakis had wanted to appoint all 10 officers who make up the Supreme Naval Council.
