Samaras Names Hardouvelis New Greek Finance Minister

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras named Gikas Hardouvelis as the country’s new finance minister, replacing Yannis Stournaras in a cabinet overhaul.

Hardouvelis will try to lead the debt-stricken nation out of a six-year recession and strike a deal with euro-area member states later this year on relieving some of Greece’s debt burden. Debt is forecast to peak in 2014 at 177.2 percent of gross domestic product according to the latest review of the country’s bailout program.