Transport minister to temporarily take on labour portfolio, Emilianidou still critical

Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos will perform the duties of Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou who is being treated abroad after suffering cerebral aneurism, the government announced on Thursday.

In a brief statement, government spokesman Marios Pelekanou announced President Nicos Anastasiades had decided to assign the duties of the labour minister to Karousos, for as long as Emilianidou “is unable to perform her duties”.

The labour minister continues to be hospitalised in critical but stable condition in Athens. She underwent a CT scan with the results considered “satisfactory given the severe extensive subarachnoid haemorrhage and the severity of her condition,” the health ministry said later in the day.

It added that her state of health is being continuously assessed by her doctors.

Asked to comment on the temporary assumption of new duties, the transport minister expressed the hope “the replacement is as short as possible”.

He said he hoped that Emilianiadou will return to her duties soon “as we already miss her”.

“These days, I will do everything possible to cope with the workload of this ministry, but the most important thing- as I have said – is that this replacement is very short and that our colleague is back to her duties,” Karousos said.

In an announcement on Wednesday, the health ministry reminded that Emilianidou, 67, underwent surgery to supress the aneurysm she suffered on Sunday night and remains sedated.

Emilianidou was initially admitted to a private hospital in Nicosia after experiencing severe headaches and then due to the seriousness of her condition was transferred to a specialised hospital in Athens. Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas and some of her relatives travelled to Athens with her.

The president was informed from the first moment.