Confined to Barracks

After years of postwar chaos and corruption, Greek politics finally achieved a state of equilibrium when two widely disparate personalities teamed up in Athens. One was resolute old Field Marshal Alexander Papagos, the war hero who was elected Premier at the head of the coalition Greek Rally Party. The other: a brilliant and unpredictable political rival named Spyros Markezinis. A small man with a quick brain, Spyros Markezinis was as unpopular as his new boss was beloved. But Papagos made him Minister of Economic Planning, gave him complete control of the disheveled Greek economy. Soon many of the gossips in Athens cafes were asking: "Who's running the country anyway--the Old Man or Markezinis?"

Markezinis did little to win the love of the people. But by ruthless planning and pruning, sternly enforced by the, old marshal, he succeeded at last in putting the nation on a firm economic footing, gave it the first balanced budget in 25 years.

Last week Markezinis, 44, abruptly resigned from the Cabinet. The official reason was ill health, but in the cafes that explanation was promptly brushed aside. Acquaintances said Spyros' health was, if anything, better since he had given up his habitual daily diet of 120 monogrammed cigarettes and 40 cups of coffee. A more likely reason for the resignation: Markezinis was piqued because three times Papagos refused to appoint men of the Economic Minister's choosing to the Cabinet, and refused to make Markezinis Vice Premier. Athenians also guessed that the two men would soon mend their differences. "If this had happened in the army," said one, "the Old Man would merely have confined him to barracks for two weeks . . ." Sworn in as Economic Minister less than 24 hours after the resignation was none other than Spyros Markezinis' own right-hand man and close friend, Thanos Kapsalis.

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