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Georgios A. Papandreou (Greek: Γεώργιος Α. Παπανδρέου, [ʝe̞ˈo̞rʝio̞s papanˈðre̞u];[1] born 16 June 1952), commonly anglicized to George and shortened to Γιώργος (Yórgos, [ˈʝo̞ɾɣo̞s]) in Greek, is the current Prime Minister of Greece following his party's victory in the 2009 legislative election. His family comes from a long standing political dynasty. He previously served as Minister for National Education and Religious Affairs (1988–1989 and 1994–1996) and was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1999 to 2004. Following his grandfather George Papandreou, Sr. and his father Andreas Papandreou, he is the third member of the Papandreou family to serve as the country's prime minister. Papandreou has been leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) party since February 2004. In 2006 he became President of the Socialist International. George Papandreou became the 182nd Prime Minister of Greece on 6 October 2009.
Early life
He was born George Jeffrey Papandreou[2] Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, where his father, Andreas Papandreou, held a university post. His mother is American-born Margaret Papandreou, née Chant. He was educated at schools in Toronto (King City Secondary School), at Amherst College in Massachusetts (where he was a friend and dormitory roommate of fellow Greek Antonis Samaras[3]), Stockholm University, the London School of Economics and Harvard University. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Amherst and a Μaster's degree in sociology from the LSE. He was a researcher in immigration issues at Stockholm University in 1972–73. He was also a Fellow of the Foreign Relations Center of Harvard University in 1992–93.
In 2002 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Amherst College and in 2006 he was named Distinguished Professor in the Center for Hellenic Studies by Georgia State College of Arts and Science.
Papandreou's father studied and worked as professor of Economics from 1939 to 1959. His paternal grandfather, the elder George Papandreou, was three times Prime Minister of Greece.
The younger George Papandreou came to Greece after the restoration of Greek democracy in 1974. He then became active in his father's party, 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 Achaea. 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 also Minister Responsible for Government Coordination for the Bid for 2004 Olympic Games in 1997.
Papandreou in 2002, as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In his second term as Minister of Education, Papandreou was the first politician in Greece to introduce affirmative action, allocating 5% of university posts for the Muslim minority in Thrace. He was also instrumental in initiating the Open University in Greece.
Papandreou received numerous awards and honorary degrees in recognition of his work for human rights. As Foreign Minister he toned down the inflammatory nationalist rhetoric of his father and fostered closer relations with Turkey and Albania with which Greece had traditionally hostile relations. He worked tirelessly to solve the dispute over Cyprus; his efforts helped bring together the Annan Plan. Papandreou, like all other political leaders, was unwilling to make concessions on Greece's fundamental position that Cyprus must be reunited and accepted that this could not lead to a status quo ante of a normal unified state. However, the Republic of Cyprus entered the European Union and become a full member of the European Union in 2004. Papandreou also worked to resolve tensions regarding the Macedonia naming dispute.
Party leadership
In anticipation of the 2004 national elections in Greece, polls indicated that PASOK was very likely to lose as the conservative New Democracy party was heading towards a landslide. In January 2004, the incumbent PM Costas Simitis announced his resignation as leader of PASOK, and passed the leadership to Papandreou by recommending him as the new leader.
On 8 February 2004 PASOK introduced for the first time the procedure of open primaries for the election of party leadership. Even if Papandreou had no opponent, this was a move designed to solidify the open primaries, democratise the party, and make a clean break with a tradition of “dynastic politics.”
In December 2003 European Voice[4] in the publication "The Europeans of the Year" named him as "The Bridge-Builder" and "Diplomat of the Year".[5] Le Monde has called him the "architect of Greek-Turkish rapprochement". He is a founding member of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly.
In May 2005, Papandreou was elected Vice President of the Socialist International following 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, PASOK again lost to the incumbent New Democracy party of Kostas Karamanlis and Papandreou’s leadership was challenged by Evangelos Venizelos and Kostas Skandalidis. Papandreou, however, retained his party's leadership at a leadership election in November.
In June 2009 and under his leadership, his party won the 2009 European Parliament election in Greece.[6] 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.[7]
Prime Minister
George Papandreou takes the oath of office of the Prime Minister of Greece.
The inauguration of George Papandreou as the 182nd Prime Minister of Greece took place on 6 October 2009.[8][9]
Upon inauguration, Papandreou's government revealed that its finances were far worse than previous announcements, with a budget deficit of 12.7% of GDP, four times more than the eurozone's limit, and a public debt of $410 billion.[10] This announcement only served to worsen the severe crisis the Greek economy was undergoing, with an unemployment rate of 10%[11] and the country's debt rating being lowered to BBB+, the lowest in the eurozone.[12] Papandreou responded by promoting austerity measures,[13] reducing spending, increasing taxes,[14] freezing additional taxes and hiring and introducing measures aimed at combatting rampant tax evasion[15] and reducing the country's public sector. The announced austerity program caused a wave of nationwide strikes[16] and has been criticised by both the EU and the eurozone nations' finance ministers as falling short of its goals.[17]
On a poll published on 18 May 2011, 77% of the people asked said they have no faith in Papandreou as Prime Minister in handling the Greek economic crisis.[18]
On 25 May 2011 the Real Democracy Now! movement started protesting in Athens and other major Greek cities. The peaceful protests are ongoing, and are considered to be a sign of popular rejection of Mr. Papandreou and his government's economic policies,[19][20] with as much as three quarters of the Greek population being against the policies of the Papandreou government.[21] Among the demands of the demonstrations at Athens's central square, who claim to have been over 500,000 at one point,[22] is the resignation of Papandreou and his government.
On the early hours of 22 June 2011, George Papandreou and his government narrowly survived a vote of confidence in the Greek parliament, with 155 of the 300 seats in parliament.[23] His government currently holds 152 seats.[24]
On 17 September 2011, he cancelled a visit to the IMF building in Washington D.C and the UN Headquarters in New York City amid mounting concern over the country's debt crisis.[25]
A poll by Public Issue on behalf of Skai TV and Kathimerini in October 2011 showed that Papandreou's popularity has dropped considerably.[26] Of the people asked, only 23% had a positive view of George Papandreou,[26] while 73% had a negative opinion;[26] ranking him lower than any other leader of a party in the Hellenic Parliament.[26] Papandreou also ranked low on the question of who is more suitable for Prime Minister, with just 22%, as both Antonis Samaras (28%) and "neither" (47%) ranked higher than him.[26]
On 31 October 2011 Papandreou announced his government's intentions to hold a referendum for the acceptance of the terms for a Eurozone bail-out deal.[27] The referendum was to take place once plans were finalized in 2012. [28] On 3 November, however, Papandreou scrapped this plan. On 5 November his government narrowly won a confidence vote in Parliament.[29]
Personal life
Papandreou and his wife attend the Quadriga Award 2010 ceremony on 3 October 2010 in Berlin.
Apart from Greek and English, he is also fluent in Swedish, French and Spanish[citation needed].
Papandreou and his wife Ada have a daughter, Margarita-Elena.[30] He also has a son, Andreas, (born 1982) from a previous marriage, 1976–1987, to Evanthia Zissimides, born in Cyprus and raised in England. According to Eva Zissimides in her 1988 book [[1]]"Eva Georgiou Papandreou reveals" George Papandreou, as well as the rest of the family, are described as indifferent to others, with no feelings at all but for personal interest[[2]]. He has two younger brothers, Nikos Papandreou and Andreas Papandreou, and two younger sisters, Sophia Papandreou and Emilia Nyblom. One of his paternal grandgrandfathers was of Polish descent.
Honours and decorations
1996: Commander of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (Ukraine) Ukraine-republic007.png
1996: Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion (Finland)
1996: Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland II class (Poland) POL Order Zaslugi RP kl2 BAR.png
1998: Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (Spain)
1999: Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star (Sweden) Order of the Polar Star - Ribbon bar.svg
1999: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Star (Estonia)
1999: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour, first class (Austria) AUT Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - 1st Class BAR.png
2000: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, first class (Germany) GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 7 Grosskreuz.svg
2001: Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (Spain)
2001: Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Belgium Order Crown rib.png
2002: Grand Cross of the Order of Infante dom Henrique (Portugal)
2002: Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX (Vatican) Order Pius Ribbon.png
2003: Grand Commander of the Order of Merit (Hungary)
2003: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Italy) ITA OMRI 2001 GC-GCord BAR.svg
2003: Gran Cruz El Sol de Peru (Peru) Order of the Sun Ribbon.jpg
Awards
1988: " Botsis's Foundation for the Promotion of Journalism " award for "his multifaceted struggles, which established the Free Radio as part of our democratic institutions"
1996: SOS against anti-Semitism, and affiliated organizations" Committee award, for his work against anti-Semitism
1997: Abdi Ipekci special award for Peace and Friendship ( June 1997) "for his activities in favor of Greek-Turkish approach during the period 1995–1996 while serving as Minister of National Education and Religion"
2000: Eastwest Institute 2000 Awards – Peace Building Awards . The 2000 "Statesman of the Year Award" given to Foreign Minister George Papandreou of Greece and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem of Turkey for their great efforts at improving relations between their respective countries
2002: Jackie Robinson Humanitarian Award (United States Sport 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)
See also
Politics of Greece
References
^ "/ George A. Papandreou :: Personal Site \". Papandreou.gr. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
^ "George Papandreou - Minnesota Birth Index, 1935-2002". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
^ "As good as it gets". ekathimerini. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
^ "An independent voice on EU news and affairs". European Voice. 2011-10-27. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
^ Papandreou[dead link]
^ "European election results 2009 for Greece". Results of the 2009 European Elections. Ministry of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
^ "Greek legislative election, 2009 results". Results of the 2009 Greek legislative elections. Ministry of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 6 October 2009.[dead link]
^ Mavrona, Katerina (6 October 2009). "New PM George Papandreou takes office". ANA-MPA (ana-mpa.gr). Retrieved 6 October 2009.
^ "Papandreou sworn in as Greek PM". BBC News. 6 October 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
^ "Greece Bailout: France, Germany Angry Over Rescue". Time Magazine. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
^ "Greece's unemployment rate hits 10%". BBC News. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
^ "Greece's Debt and Economy Woes: As Bad as Dubai's?". Time Magazine. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
^ "Greece unveils austerity programme to cut deficit". BBC News. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
^ "Greek Tragedy: Athens' Financial Woes". Time Magazine. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
^ "No tax please, we're Greek". BBC News. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
^ "Greece hit by nationwide strike over austerity measures". BBC News. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
^ "Greece told to make more spending cuts". BBC Nwes. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
^ "Mνημόνιο ένα χρόνο μετά: Aποδοκιμασία, αγανάκτηση, απαξίωση, ανασφάλεια (One Year after the Memorandum: Disapproval, Anger, Disdain, Insecurity)". skai.gr. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
^ "Inside the Greek parliament protest camp". BBC. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
^ "Greece austerity: PM Papandreou tries to persuade MPs". BBC. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
^ "EU leaders urge Greek politicians to support new cuts". BBC. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
^ "«Αγανακτισμένοι»: Πρωτοφανής συμμετοχή σε Αθήνα και άλλες πόλεις" (in Greek). skai.gr. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
^ "Greek government survives confidence vote". BBC. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
^ "Βουλευτές - Ανά Κοινοβουλευτική Ομάδα [MPs - By Parliamentary Group]". www.hellenicparliament.gr. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
^ "Greek crisis: PM George Papandreou cancels US visit". BBC News. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
^ a b c d e "Πολιτικό Βαρόμετρο 95 - Οκτώβριος 2011". Public Issue (www.skai.gr). October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
^ "Ρίσκα και αβεβαιότητες από την πολιτική «βόμβα» για δημοψήφισμα [Risks and uncertainties by the political "bomb" for a referendum]". Skai TV. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
^ "Ευ. Βενιζέλος: Από το νέο έτος το δημοψήφισμα [Evangelos Venizelos: Referendum to take place after the new year]". Skai TV. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
^ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15604169 "Greek PM Papandreou faces unity challenge over bailout" at bbc.co.uk}
^ "/ George A. Papandreou :: Personal Site \". Papandreou.gr. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
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