Costis Stephanopoulos
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President of the Hellenic Republic |
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| Born | August 15, 1926 Patras |
|---|---|
| Title | 8th President of the 3rd Hellenic Republic |
| Term | March 8, 1995 - March 2, 2005 |
| Predecessor | Constantine Karamanlis |
| Successor | Karolos Papoulias |
| Political party | Nea Demokratia (New Democracy) |
| Spouse | Pandora Papadatou |
Konstantinos Stephanopoulos (born August 15, 1926) is a Greek politician and former President of Greece.
Stephanopoulos was born in Patras. After attending the Saint Andreas school of Patras, he studied law at Athens University. He practiced law from 1954 until 1974 as a member of the Bar Association of Patras.
He first stood for election in 1958, with the National Radical Union and was elected for the first time as Member of Parliament for Achaia in 1964. He was re-elected for the same constituency for New Democracy (ND) in 1974, 1977, 1981 and 1985. He served as ND parliamentary secretary and parliamentary spokesman between 1981 and 1985.
In 1974, Stephanopoulos was appointed Deputy Minister of Commerce in the National Unity government of Constantine Karamanlis. For the next seven years he served in a number of ministerial posts in New Democracy governments: Minister for the Interior from November 1974 to September 1976; Minister for Social Services from September 1976 to November 1977; Minister for the Presidency from 1977 to 1981.
In August 1985 he withdrew from the ND and on September 6 of the same year formed the Democratic Renewal (DIANA). He was elected Member of Parliament for Athens in the elections of 1989 while continuing as president of DIΑΝΑ, until it disbanded in June 1994.
In the presidential election of 1995, after being nominated by the conservative party Political Spring (POLΑΝ) and supported by the ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), he was elected President of Greece on March 8, 1995. He became the eighth President since the restoration of a democratic system of government in 1974, winning the election on a third ballot with 181 votes. He was re-elected President of Greece on February 8, 2000, on the first ballot after receiving 269 votes from the 298 MPs present, and remained in office until March 2, 2005, when he was succeeded by Karolos Papoulias.
As a President he was admired for his low-key profile, unifying approach to currect and international affairs, and gentlemanlike behaviour. Because of that, he is considered to be one of the most respected and loved Presidents ever.
In 2004, he entertained the former King Constantine II of Greece at the Presidential palace. It was the highest political recognition given to the former king since he was deposed.
Stephanopoulos has received many honorary awards and the highest decorations of foreign countries. He is an honorary citizen of many towns in Greece.
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| Preceded by Constantine Karamanlis |
President of Greece 1995 - 2005 |
Succeeded by Karolos Papoulias |
| Greece |
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