Kikis Kazamias

Kikis Kazamias (Greek: Κίκης Καζαμίας; born 27 August 1951) is a Cypriot economist and politician. He studied International Trade and International Economic Relations at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (BSEL) with a specialization in foreign trade and international economic relations. Returning to Cyprus in 1977, Kazamias became actively involved in politics joining the left-wing Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL).

Career

From 1999 until 2003, he was the President of the Investments Group of the Co-operative Societies. In 1991 Kazamias was elected Member of the Cyprus House of Representatives, representing AKEL, and was reelected in 1996. From 1991 until 2001, he was member of the Financial and Budgetary Parliamentary Committee, and a member of the Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee. From 1991 until 1994 he was also a member of the Communications and Public Works Committee.

From 1996 until 2001, he was a member of the Joint Committee of the Cyprus Parliament with the European Union. Furthermore, he represented the Cypriot Parliament in various international meetings. In 2001, Kikis Kazamias was elected Mayor of Famagusta and became President of the occupied municipalities and First Vice-President of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities.

In February 2003 he was appointed Minister of Communications and Works by the President of Cyprus. He was also chosen as a Member of the Council of Internal Control.^[1][2] As a Minister, he participated in the Council of the European Union's meetings on Transport, Development, Shipping and Telecommunications. He resigned from his post in April 2004 after the referendum on the Annan Plan for Cyprus that was rejected by the majority of the Cypriots.

Kazamias has been a Member of the European Court of Auditors since 2 November 2004 and is rapporteur for Audit Group I – Agricultural policies.^[3][4] He is also a member of the Court's Administrative Committee.

European debt crisis

On 5 August 2011, Kazamias was appointed Finance Minister of Cyprus by Demetris Christofias replacing Charilaos Stavrakis while still serving his term.^[5][6][7] He was in charge for implementing and negotiating the EU austerity measures within the Cyprus government sector after the 2008 European sovereign debt crisis.^[8][9][10] He resigned citing medical reasons in March 2012. President Christofias appointed Vassos Shiarly to take his place.^{[11][12][13][14]}

Personal life

Kazamias is married to Rodoula Koliandri. They have three children.

References