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| In his second term as Minister of Education, Papandreou was the first politician in Greece to introduce ], allocating 5% of university posts for the Muslim minority in Thrace. He was also instrumental in initiating the ] in Greece. | In his second term as Minister of Education, Papandreou was the first politician in Greece to introduce ], allocating 5% of university posts for the Muslim minority in Thrace. He was also instrumental in initiating the ] 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 ] and ] with which Greece had traditionally hostile relations. He worked tirelessly to solve the ]; his efforts helped bring together the ]. 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 ] of a normal unified state. However, the Republic of ] entered the ] and become a full member of the E.U. family in 2004. Papandreou also worked to resolve tensions regarding the |
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 ] and ] with which Greece had traditionally hostile relations. He worked tirelessly to solve the ]; his efforts helped bring together the ]. 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 ] of a normal unified state. However, the Republic of ] entered the ] and become a full member of the E.U. family in 2004. Papandreou also worked to resolve tensions regarding the former Yugoslav ] in the early 1990s. | ||
| ==Party leadership== | ==Party leadership== | ||
Revision as of 11:48, 31 March 2009
For George Papandreou's grandfather, also called George Papandreou, see George Papandreou (senior).
Georgios Papandreou (Template:Lang-el) (born June 16, 1952), Greek citizen of American (through his mother) and Greek-American origin; he has been leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) party since February 2004. The son and grandson of Greek prime ministers, he was Minister for National Education and Religious Affairs two times (1988-1989 and 1994-1996) and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1999 to 2004. In 2006 he became President of the Socialist International.
Background
Papandreou was born as Jeffrey Papandreou in St Paul, Minnesota, in the United States, where his father, Andreas Papandreou, then held a university post. His mother is American-born Margaret Papandreou, née Chant. He was educated at schools in Toronto Canada, at Amherst College in Massachusetts, Stockholm University, the London School of Economics (LSE), and finally at Harvard University. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Amhest 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 Centre of Harvard University in 1992-93. Apart from Greek and English he is also fluent in Swedish.
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 grandfather, the elder George Papandreou, was twice 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.
Entry into politics
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.
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 E.U. family in 2004. Papandreou also worked to resolve tensions regarding the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the early 1990s.
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. Papandreou at the time was, according to the polls, the most popular politician in Greece.
On February 8, 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 in the publication "The Europeans of the Year" named him as "The Bridge-Builder" and "Diplomat of the Year". . 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 was, however, returned to his party's leadership at a leadership election in November.
Personal
Papandreou and his wife Ada have a daughter, Margarita-Elena. Papandreou also has a son, Andreas, (born 1982) from a previous marriage. He has two younger brothers, Nikos Papandreou and Andreas Papandreou, and a younger sister Sophia Papandreou.
Honours and Decorations
- 1996: Commander of the Order of the Yaroslav (Ukraine)
- 1996: Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion (Finland)
- 1996: Grand Commander of the Order of the Polish Republic (Poland)
- 1998: Grand Cross of the Order of the Civil Merit (Spain)
- 1999: Grand Cross of the Order of Polar Star (Sweden)
- 1999: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Star (Estonia)
- 1999: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour, first class (Austria)
- 2000: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, first class (Germany)
- 2001: Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (Spain)
- 2001: Grand Cross of the Order of 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 the Merit (Hungary)
- 2003: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Italy)
- 2003: Gran Cruz El Sol du Peru (Peru)
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 Racism, and affiliated organizations" Committee award, for his work against racism and 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)
References
External links
- Official site
- Personal blog
- Profile by Athens News Agency in English
- Profile by Macedonian Press Agency in Greek
- Acceptance speech at the Socialist International Conference (Athens 2006)
See also
Template:Incumbent succession boxTemplate:Incumbent succession box| Preceded byApostolos Kaklamanis | Minister of National Education and Religious Affairs 1988–1989 |
Succeeded byVasileios Kontogiannopoulos |
| Preceded byDimitrios Fatouros | Minister of National Education and Religious Affairs 1994–1996 |
Succeeded byGerasimos Arsenis |
| Preceded byTheodoros Pangalos | Minister for Foreign Affairs 1999–2004 |
Succeeded byTassos Yiannitsis |
- Foreign ministers of Greece
- Panhellenic Socialist Movement politicians
- Amherst College alumni
- Alumni of the London School of Economics
- Greek Orthodox Christians
- Greek Eastern Orthodox Christians
- Stockholm University alumni
- 1952 births
- Living people
- Presidents of the Socialist International
- People from Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Greek MPs 1996-2000
- Greek MPs 2000-2004
- Greek MPs 2004-2007
- Greek MPs 2007-