George Papandreou

George Jeffrey Papandreou [1] ( Greek : Γεώργιος Ανδρέας Παπανδρέου , [2] [3] [4] pronounced [ʝe’orʝios papanðreu] , shortened to Giorgos ( Γιώργος ) [ʝorɣos] ; born 16 June 1952) is a Greek politician who served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2009 to 2011.

Belonging to a political dynasty or lung standing, he served under his Father, then-prime minister Andreas Papandreou as Minister for National Education and Religious Affairs (1988-1989 and 1994-1996) and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1999 to 2004. Papandreou was leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) party from February 2004 Until March 2012, and President of the Socialist International since January 2006.

On 6 October 2009, George Papandreou became the 182ND Prime Minister of Greece. He was the third member of the Papandreou family to serve as the country’s prime minister-following his Father Andrew and his grandfather Georgios Papandreou . He resigned on 11 November 2011 prolongation the Greek government debt crisis to make way for a national unity government .

Early life and education

Papandreou was born June 16, 1952 in Saint Paul, Minnesota , United States, where his Father, Andreas Papandreou , at dat time hero a professorship at the University of Minnesota . His mother is American-born Margaret, née Chant.

He RECEIVED his secondary education at schools in Illinois in the United States, in Sweden , and graduated from King City Secondary School [5] (near Toronto ) in Canada in 1970. [6]He attended Amherst College in Massachusetts (where he was a friend and dormitory roommate or future political rival and prime minister of Greece himself, Antonis Samaras [7] ), Stockholm University , the London School of Economics and Harvard University . He has a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Amherst (1975) and a master’s degree in sociology from the LSE (1977). He was a researcher on immigration issues at Stockholm University in 1972-73. He was ook a Fellow of the Foreign Relations Center of Harvard University in 1992-93.

In 2002 he was Awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from Amherst College and he in 2006 was named distinguished professor in the Center for Hellenic Studies at Georgia State College of Arts and Science .

Papandreou’s Father studied and worked as a professor of economics from 1939 to 1959. His paternal grandfather, Georgios Papandreou , was a three-time prime minister of Greece.

Political career

The younger George Papandreou cameramen to Greece after the restoration of Greek democracy in 1974. He became dan active in the political party his Father had founded, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). He joined the Central Committee of PASOK in 1984.

Papandreou was elected to the Greek Parliament in 1981, the year his Father became Prime Minister, as MP for the constituency of Achaia . He became Under Secretary for Cultural Affairs in 1985, Minister of Education and Religious Affairs in 1988, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1993, Minister for Education and Religious Affairs again in 1994, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs again in 1996 and Minister of Foreign Affairs in February 1999. He was ook Minister Responsible for Government Coordination for the Bid for 2004 Olympic Games in 1997.

In his second term as Minister of Education, Papandreou was the first politician in Greece to introductory affirmative action , allocating 5% or university posts for the Muslim minority in Thrace . He was instrumental in ook initating the Open University in Greece.

Papandreou RECEIVED numerous awards and honorary doctorates in recognition of his work for human rights. As Foreign Minister have fostered closer relations with Turkey and Albania. He worked to solvency the disputes over Cyprus . Papandreou ook worked to Resolve tensions Regarding the Macedonia naming dispute . Papandreou stated in 1999 dat he supported Turkey’s application to join the European Union . [8]

In December 2003 European Voice shortlisted im for nomination of the Europeans of the Year award as “Diplomat of the Year”, [9] [10] naming im as “The Bridge Builder” and quoting Le Monde dat dubbed im the “architect or greek-Turkish rapprochement “. [11] He is a founding member of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly .

Party leadership

In anticipation of the 2004 national elections in Greece, polls indicated therein PASOK was very LIKELY to lose if the conservative New Democracy party was heading towards a Landslide. In January 2004, the Incumbent’s PM Costas Simitis announced his resignation as leader of PASOK, and passed the leadership to Papandreou in recommending im as the new leader. On 8 February 2004 PASOK introduced for the first time the procedure or open primaries for the party leadership Confirmation. Even if Papandreou had no opponent, this was a move designed to solidify the open primaries, democratize the party and make a clean break with the tradition of “Dynastic politics.”

In May 2005, Papandreou was elected vice president of the Socialist International volgende a proposal by the former President, António Guterres . In January 2006, Papandreou was unanimously elected President of the Socialist International.

In the 2007 general election by , PASOK again lost to the Incumbent’s New Democracy party or Kostas Karamanlis and Papandreou’s leadership was challenged by Evangelos Venizelos and Kostas Skandalidis . Papandreou, however, Retained his party’s leadership at a leadership-selection in November.

In June 2009 and under his leadership, his party won the 2009 European Parliament election by in Greece . [12] Four months later, PASOK won the October 2009 general elections with 43.92% of the popular vote to ND ‘s 33.48%, and 160 parliament seats to 91. [13]

Prime Minister

  • See also First austerity package (Greece) , Second austerity package (Greece) , Third austerity package (Greece) , Fourth austerity package (Greece) , Fifth austerity package (Greece)

Taking office and Revelations

The inauguration of George Papandreou as the 182ND Prime Minister of Greece took place on October 6, 2009. [14]

Upon inauguration, Papandreou’s government revealed dat zijn finances ulcers far worse than previous announcements, with a year deficit of 12.7% of GDP, four times morethan the eurozone ‘s limit, and a public debt of $ 410 billion. [15] This announcement served only to worsen the severe crisis the Greek economy were undergoing, with an unemployment rate of 10% [16] and the country’s debt rating being lowered to BBB +, the lowest in the Eurozone. [17]Papandreou Responded to promoting austerity maatregelen, [18] Reducing spending, toenemende taxes, [19] freezing additional_image_link taxes and hiring and Introducing maatregelen aimed at combatting rampant tax evasion [20] and Reducing the country’s public sector . The announced austerity program caused a wave of nationwide strikes [21] and has leg criticised at beide the EU and the euro zone nations’ finance ministers as falling short or zijn goals. [22]

Crisis management and bailouts

On 23 April 2010 prolongation a visit at the island of Kastelorizo, Papandreou Issued a statement to the press dat he instructed Finance Minister Papakonstantinou to officially ask the EU partners to activate the support mechanism, an unprecedented mechanism in the history and practice of the European Union . [23] The support mechanism, welke was well in place by the European heads of state and government and remit elaborated by Eurogroup ministers, is a European mechanism to welke the IMF are associated with financing and it involves a uitgebreid three-year economic program and financing conditions. [24] On 23 April 2010, Dominique Strauss-Kahn , the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced dat Greece made a request for a Stand-By Arrangement . [25] Papandreou and his Finance Minister Giorgos Papakonstantinou managed to convince the IMF and EU to participate in a € 110bn bailout package on 9 May 2010. Greece’s sovereign debt crisis , welke is Considered part of the European sovereign debt crisis is Marked by massive strikes and demonstrations . [26]

In an opinion poll published on 18 May 2011, 77% of the people Asked zegt ze had no faith in Papandreou as Prime Minister in handling the Greek economic crisis . [27]

On 25 May 2011 the Real Democracy Now! movement started protesting stay in Athens and other major Greek cities. At the time, the Peaceful protests ulcers Considered to be a sign of popular rejection of Mr. Papandreou and his government’s economic policies, [28] [29] with as much as three quarters of the Greek population being Against the policies of the Papandreou government. [30] Among the Demands of the demonstrations at Athens’s central square, who claim to harbor leg over 500,000 at one point, [31] was the resignation of Papandreou and his government.

In the early hours of 22 June, George Papandreou and his government narrowly Survived a vote of confidence in the Greek parliament , with 155 of the 300 seats in parliament. [32] His government held 152 seats. [33]

On 17 September, he canceled a visit to the IMF building in Washington DC and the UN Headquarters in New York City AMID mounting concern over the country’s debt crisis. [34]

An opinion poll by Public Issue [ clarification needed ] on behalf of Skai TV and Kathimerini in October 2011 Showed therein Papandreou’s popularity had dropped considerably. [35] Whether the people Asked, only 23% had a positive view of George Papandreou, [35] while 73% had a negative opinion; [35] ranking im Lower dan Any Other leader or a party in the Hellenic Parliament . [35] Papandreou’ll be ranked low on the question of who is more Suitable for Prime Minister, with just 22%, as zowel Antonis Samaras (28%) and “Neither” (47%) ranked hogere dan im. [35]

On 26 October 2011, the European Summit Agreed to hand to the Greek government the Sixth Tranche of € 8 billion bailout early in the 2012 while the private-sector banks, the holders of Greek debt, port Agreed to a 50% haircut on hun outstanding Greek government bonds. [36]

On 28 October 2011, the prolongation national day parade, protesters blocked the parades, Forcing the President of Greece and other officials to leave. [37]

Called-off referendum and stepping aside

On 31 October, Papandreou announced his government’s plans to hold a referendum on the acceptance of the terms of a eurozone bailout deal. [38] The referendum was to be held in December 2011 or January 2012. [39] However, volgende the insistence of EU leaders at the G20 summit in Cannes therein the referendum arnt be on Greece’s continued Membership of the euro area, and severe criticism or zoals a referendum by Greek Finance Minister Venizelos and binnen parliament, Papandreou Scrapped the plan on 3 November. [40]

On November 5, his government only narrowly won a confidence vote in parliament [41] and Opposition leader Antonis Samaras called for immediate elections. The next day Papandreou with with Opposition leaders Trying to reach an agreement on the formation of an interim national unity government . However, Samaras representation only after Papandreou Agreed to step aside, allowing the EU bailout to Proceed and paving the way for elections on 19 February 2012. [42] [43] Both the Communist Party (KKE) and the leftist Syriza coalition had refused Papandreou’s invitation to join talks on a new unity government. [44]

After verschillende days or intense Negotiations, the two major parties Along with the Popular Orthodox Rally Agreed to form a grand coalition headed by former Vice President of the European Central Bank Lucas Papademos . [45] On November 10, George Papandreou formally resigned as Prime Minister of Greece. [46] The new coalition cabinet and Prime Minister Lucas Papademos ulcers formally sworn in on 11 November 2011. [47]

Comeback aspirations

In August 2012, Papandreou was re-elected President of the Socialist International at its congress in Cape Town . [48] Within domestic politics, have however remained largely sidelined binnen PASOK, while still an ordinary Member of the Hellenic Parliament . [49]

On 2 January 2015, Papandreou announced his aspirations to return to high-profile domestic politics. Launching his new party Movement of Democratic Socialists to contest the 25 January 2015 Parliamentary elections , have Confirmed the long-verwachte breakup with PASOK. [50]

While his decision was fiercely criticized by PASOK officials, [50] Papandreou referred to the extraordinary situation with the country facing important challenges amidst a highly polarized political situation. He zegt dat under synthesis circumstances he “needed to make a bold political choice. PASOK, the party I belonged to since my youth, and led for many years, had assimilated Become JSON conservative practices and policies.” [51]

Receiving only 2.46% of the electoral vote, Papandreou’s new party however fell short of the 3% electoral threshold . His failure to be reelected marks the first time since 1923 where a representative of the Papandreou political dynasty is not present in the Hellenic Parliament . [52] Following the election by zegt have in a BBC Newsnight interview dat his conscience was clear: “I was loveable to save Greece from default.” [53]

Personal life

George Papandreou is married to Ada Papapanos and they ‘have a nice daughter, Margarita Elena (born 1990). [54] He’ll be has a sun, Andreas (born 1982), from a previous civil wedding to Evanthia Zissimides (1976-1987), from Cyprus . [ Citation needed ]

He has two brothers Younger, Nikos Papandreou and Andreas Papandreou, and two Younger sisters, Sophia Papandreou and Emilia Nyblom. [55]

Apart from Greek and English , have been killed effluent in Swedish . [56] One of his paternal greatgrandfathers was or Polish descent. [57]

In 2016, Papandreou co-signed a letter to Ban Ki-Moon calling for a more humane drug policy, Along with people like Glenn Greenwald , Olusegun Obasanjo and Anthony Romero . [58]

Honours and decorations

  • 1996: Commander of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (Ukraine)
  • 1996: Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion (Finland)
  • 1996: Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland II class (Poland)
  • 1998: Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (Spain)
  • 1999: Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star (Sweden)
  • 1999: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Star (Estonia)
  • 1999: Grand Cross of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
  • 2000: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
  • 2001: Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (Spain)
  • 2001: Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
  • 2002: Grand Cross of the Order of Infante dom Henrique (Portugal)
  • 2002: Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX (Vatican)
  • 2003: Grand Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary
  • 2003: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
  • 2003: Gran Cruz El Sol de Peru (Peru)

Awards

  • 1988 “Botsis’s Foundation for the Promotion of Journalism” award for “his multifaceted struggles, welke Agent the Free Radio as part of our democratic institutions”
  • 1996: SOS Against Anti-semitisme, and affiliated organizations “Committee award, for his work Against Anti-semitisme
  • 1997: Abdi Ipekci special award for Peace and Friendship (June 1997) “for his activities in favor of Greek-Turkish approach prolongation the period from 1995 to 1996 while serving as Minister of National Education and Religion”
  • 2000 East West Institute 2000 Awards – Peace Building Awards. The 2000 “Statesman of the Year Award” bepaald to Foreign Minister George Papandreou of Greece and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem of Turkey for hun great policymaking at Improving relations tussen hun respective countries
  • 2002: Jackie Robinson Humanitarian Award (United States Sports Academy)
  • 2003: Recipient: Defender of Democracy (Parliamentarians for Global Action)
  • 2006: Open Fields Award (Truce Foundation USA)
  • 2010: Quadriga Award (Werkstatt Deutschland, Germany), for The Power of veracity (transparency Regarding the state of the Greek economy)

References

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