Costas Simitis

Costas Simitis (in Greek: Κώστας Σημίτης ) is a Greek politician born in Pirée the June 23rd 1936. President of the PASOK and Prime Minister for the Greece of 1996 with 2004, member of the Group Amato charged to write the modifying project of Treated.

Personal informations

Father: Georges Simitis, lawyer, professor at the University economic of Athens, a long time barristers president of the bar of the Pirée and appointed at the Parliament. Mother: Fanny Christopoulou, a long time president of womens' organizations of left and president of the panhellenic female Union. His/her parents took both share with the Résistance against the German occupant during the Second world war.

Marry: Arkadiou daphne. Two girls, Fiona and Marilena.

Studies and academic career

Studies of right in German Federal republic then studies of economy to the London School off Economics and Political Science (Them). Teaching in Philips-Universität of Marburg (FRG) as of 1959, at the University of Constancy in 1971 then at the University of Giessen (commercial law professor and civilian) of 1971 with 1975 and finally, as of 1977, at the Panteion University of Athens as an ordinary professor.

Political career

1967-1974: opposition to the dictatorship of the colonels

Costas Simitis had taken part in 1965 in the foundation of the political Circle of Research " Alexandros Papanastasiou" the purpose of who was to identify and study the main issues of social and economic nature encountered then by the country, in order to work out solutions. Into 1967, the Circle is transformed into organization of opposition to the Dictature (founded the April 21st of the same year) and takes the name of " democratic Defense ". (The organization will take part seven years later in the foundation of the PASOK ).

Threatened of arrest, Simitis leaves the country secretly and is seen condemned by contumacy for " infringement with the law on the liquids inflammables". His Daphné wife is stopped in reprisals and is condemned to two months of imprisonment.

Since 1970, it takes share with PAK ( Mouvement panhellenic of release ).

1974-1996: tally of the PASOK and member of governments

Founding member of the PASOK in 1974.

1981 - 1985: victory of the PASOK with legislative, Minister for Agriculture (government Andréas Papandréou)

1985 - 1987: Minister for Finance (Papandréou government)

1989 - 1990: Minister for Education and the Worships (government of national alliance)

1990 - 1993: Minister of Industry and Commercial Minister (Papandréou government)

Deputy representing the Pirée since 1985.

Prime Minister and president of the PASOK

The January 18th 1996, Costas Simitis is elected Prime Minister by the parliamentary group of the PASOK , to replace Andréas Papandréou which resigns for health reasons. The June 30th of the same year, it is elected president of the PASOK during the 4th congress of the party. The victory of the party to legislative of September 22nd 1996 confirms it in its post of Prime Minister, whom it occupies during eight years. Victorious again to legislative of 2000, the party passes through nevertheless an serious attack of confidence near its electorate: Costas Simitis tries to reverse the tendency by resigning of her position of president of the party the January 7th 2004, with the profit of Georges Papandréou (wire of Andréas Papandréou) but the right party, Nouvelle Democracy , in the opposition for 11 years, has gained the elections of March 2006 and Kóstas Karamanlís becomes Prime Minister.

After the defeat of 2004

Today, Costas Simitis, who was done more discrete on the political scene, is always appointed with the Parliament and member of the parliamentary commissions of the military Businesses and the Foreign affairs.

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