FACTBOX-Comments on Greek cabinet reshuffle, new finmin

Jan 7 (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis sacked his finance minister on Wednesday in a cabinet reshuffle to try to shore up his government's popularity, hit by riots, scandals and economic woes. [IDn:L7400357]

Following are comments on the reshuffle and the choice of Yannis Papathanassiou as the next finance minister:

THEODOROS LIVANIOS, HEAD OF OPINION POLLING AGENCY

"Karamanlis wants to show he is listening to public opinion and the best way to do that is to focus on the finance minister.

"He wants to make clear this is a substantial and not a cosmetic reshuffle."

COSTAS PANAGOPOULOS, HEAD OF ALCO POLLING AGENCY

"The new minister must deal with a very difficult situation -- the crisis reaching Greece, public borrowing at high rates, a market fearing the worst, but also the displeasure and scepticism of a society that believes government economic policy favours the rich and not the middle class or the poor.

"It's a tough task but the man comes from the markets, and is capable. (The PM) chose a man who knows the markets and the ministry, signalling that he is not changing policies but persons.

"I don't think this reshuffle will lead to a reversal of what we see in opinion polls."

GEORGE PAPACONSTANTINOU, MAIN SOCIALIST OPPOSITION PASOK SPOKESMAN

"This reshuffle confirmed the government's dead end. Its main intention was to balance internal New Democracy conflicts.

"Government policies remain unchanged. Economic policy, which has worsened the lives of the people, has not changed. Nothing has changed in public, social, health or education policy.

"Unfortunately, in this reshuffle, one person remained in his position: the prime minister. The country needs a new PM and a new government. Only then can the country escape this crisis."

ALEXANDER MORAITAKIS, HEAD OF GREEK BROKERS (SMEHA)

"Alogoskoufis became the focus of criticism by many groups in the economy and was perceived as taking care of big bankers, that he had lost his touch with the small and mid-sized business sector."

"SMEHA feels the minister did not promote measures to see Greece become an international financial centre as was pledged by the prime minister in May 2005."

DIMITRIS DASKALOPOULOS, HEAD OF GREEK INDUSTRIALISTS (SEV)

"Governments are judged by their policies. The challenges of 2009 demand a substantial change in how we face critical problems, and a strong and effective governance.

"This is what is urgently required from the new cabinet." (Compiled by Renee Maltezou)