Former President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, passed away this morning, December 26, 2021.
He was born in the village of Molyvdoskepastos, in Ioannina, and he was the son of the Major General, Grigorios Papoulias. He graduated from the Law School of Athens. He completed his postgraduate studies at the University of Milan (Public International Law and International Relations) and then he received his PhD from the University of Cologne (Private International Law). His doctoral dissertation was entitled: “Erwerb und Verlust des unmittelbaren Besitzes im griechishen und deutschen Recht” (“The acquisition and loss of ownership under Greek and German law”).
Regarding his political career, in 1974, he joined the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) party and he was a MP for Ioannina for 26 years (1977-2004). In the first government formed by Andreas Papandreou, Mr. Papoulias was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister, a position he held until 1984, when he was later promoted to Deputy Foreign Minister. In the period 1985-1989, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, while in the coalition government under the Prime Minister, Xenophon Zolotas, in 1989-1990, he served as Deputy Minister of National Defense. From 1993 to 1996 he served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs, until the resignation of the Papandreou Government, in view of the election of Kostas Simitis to the post of Prime Minister. Finally, he was chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs.
On December 12, 2004, he was nominated by the Prime Minister, Kostas Karamanlis, for the office of President of the Hellenic Republic. The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) party was also in favor of this proposal. In the first ballot held in Parliament on February 8, 2005, Mr. Karolos Papoulias was elected President of the Hellenic Republic from the first round with 279 votes. On February 3, 2010, Μr. Karolos Papoulias was re-elected as the President of the Hellenic Republic with 266 votes out of a total of 298 voters. The Parliamentary Groups of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), New Democracy (ND) and Popular Orthodoxy Rally (LAOS) voted aslo in favor of this proposal. As a result, he became the third President to be re-elected for a second term. Mr. Karolos Papoulias is married to Mary Panou and has three daughters.
στο Google News και μάθετε πρώτοι όλες τις ειδήσειςLatest News
New Electricity Subsidies for 1 Million Greek Businesses
Ministry of Environment and Energy has officially announced the framework for electricity subsidies targeting approximately one million businesses across Greece.
Eurostat: Women and Youth Most Underpaid in Greece
In the EU 18.2% of women are low-paid compared to men, against 23% in Greece. A staggering 43% of young Greeks are low-paid—the second-worst rate in Europe.
Public Services in Greece to Go Under Review with New Rating Tool
Public services will receive their evaluation scores and feedback directly, fostering a system of accountability and continuous improvement.
Istanbul Earthquake – Greek Prof. Concerned Major Quake Yet to Strike
Responding to concerns over whether a potential major quake in Istanbul could affect Greece, Papazachos was reassuring: “The fault extends as far as Lemnos and the Northern Sporades, but it doesn’t rupture all at once. An earthquake in Istanbul doesn’t have the capacity to directly affect Greek territory.”
Greece 4th Most Popular Summer Destination for Europeans
Southern Europe remains the top choice for Europeans at 41%, though down 8% from last year, likely due to rising temperatures and climate concerns.
Easter Sales Performance and the Source of €4–5 Million in Losses
Easter retail sales were relatively weak this year, with the only "real winners" being the livestock farmers who had lambs to sell.
Hotel Foreclosures Continue to Plague Greece’s Islands
A surge in hotel foreclosures across Greece’s islands threatens small tourism businesses, despite booming visitor numbers and record-breaking travel in 2024.
Athens Launches Task Force to Safeguard Historic City Center
The new municipal unit will ensure compliance to zoning laws, curb noise, and address tourist rental issues starting from the Plaka district.
WTTC: Travel & Tourism to Create 4.5M New Jobs in EU by 2035
This year, international visitor spending is set to reach 573 billion euros, up by more than 11% year-on-year
IMF: US Tariffs Shake Global Economy, Outlook Downbeat
IMF slashes global growth forecast to 2.8% as U.S. tariffs create uncertainty and ‘negative supply shock
![Accor: Η βιωσιμότητα «κλειδί» για την ανάπτυξη και ανθεκτικότητα του ελληνικού τουρισμού [έρευνα]](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/thumbnail-90x90.jpg)
![Οι αλλαγές που υπάρχουν στα φορολογικά έντυπα για τα εισοδήματα του φορολογικού έτους 2024 από ακίνητα [Γ’ Μέρος]](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/akinita-600x400.jpeg)
