Kostis Hatzidakis

Konstantinos (Kostis) Hatzidakis (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος (Κωστής) Χατζηδάκης; born 20 April 1965 in Rethymno) is a Greek politician of New Democracy who has been serving as Minister for Νational Economy and Finance in the Cabinet of Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Prior to this, he served as the Minister for Labor and Social Affairs (2021–2023) and as Minister for the Environment and Energy (2019–2021).[1] Within his party, he serves as vice president under Mitsotakis' leadership.

Kostis Hatzidakis
Κωστής Χατζηδάκης
Hatzidakis in 2010
Minister for Νational Economy and Finance
Assumed office
27 June 2023
Prime MinisterKyriakos Mitsotakis
Preceded byTheodore Pelagides
Minister for Labor and Social Affairs
In office
5 January 2021 – 26 May 2023
Prime MinisterKyriakos Mitsotakis
Preceded byGiannis Vroutsis
Succeeded byPatrina Paparrigopoulou
Minister for the Environment and Energy
In office
9 July 2019 – 5 January 2021
Prime MinisterKyriakos Mitsotakis
Preceded byGiorgos Stathakis
Succeeded byKostas Skrekas
Minister for Development and Competitiveness
In office
25 June 2013 – 10 June 2014
Prime MinisterAntonis Samaras
Preceded byhimself (Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure, Transport and Networks)
Succeeded byNikos Dendias
Minister for Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure, Transport and Networks
In office
21 June 2012 – 25 June 2013
Prime MinisterAntonis Samaras
Preceded byYannis Stournaras (Development, Competitiveness and Shipping)
Simos Simopoulos (Infrastructure, Transport and Networks)
Succeeded byhimself (Development and Competitiveness)
Michalis Chrisochoidis (Infrastructure, Transport and Networks)
Vice President of New Democracy
Assumed office
18 January 2016
Serving with Adonis Georgiadis
PresidentKyriakos Mitsotakis
Personal details
Born (1965-04-20) 20 April 1965
Rethymno, Greece
Political partyNew Democracy
ProfessionLawyer

Political career

Hatzidakis was elected President of the Youth Organisation of New Democracy (ONNED), serving from 1992 to 1994.

Member of the European Parliament, 1994–2007

Hatzidakis was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for New Democracy in the European elections of 1994, 1999 and 2004. During his time in parliament from 1994 until 2007, he served on the Committee on Regional Development. From 2004 until 2005. He was also a member of the Temporary committee on policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007–2013. In addition to his committee assignments, he was part of the parliament's delegations to the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee (1994–1999); to the parliamentary cooperation committees for relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia (1999–2004); and to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee.[2]

Career in national politics

In the 2007 Greek legislative election, Hatzidakis was elected to the Hellenic Parliament for the Athens B constituency and consequently resigned from the European Parliament.[3]

Hatzidakis served as Minister for Transport and Communications from 2007 to 2009 and then as Minister for Development in 2009.

On 15 December 2010, Hatzidakis was ambushed and assaulted by violent rioters during a general strike at the height of the Greek government-debt crisis.[4][5]

Minister for the Environment and Energy, 2019–2021

In his capacity as energy minister, Hatzidakis was tasked to work on a rescue plan for state-owned Public Power Corporation (PPC) which had been struggling with 2.7 billion euros ($2.99 billion) of unpaid bills from customers unable to pay during the country's financial crisis.[6] From 2020, he also oversaw efforts to liquidate majority state-owned nickel producer LARCO, another company struggling under heavy debt, and then look for an investor for some of the company's assets.[7] Under his leadership, Greece also began the sale of a minority stake in PPC-owned power distribution operator HEDNO[8] and of power grid operator ADMIE in 2020.[9]

Minister for Labor and Social Affairs, 2021–2023

In May 2021, Hatzidakis introduced the government's plans to overhaul Greek labour laws by liberalizing working hours, including by introducing a "digital work card" to monitor employees working hours in real time as well as increasing legal overtime to 150 hours a year.[10]

Other activities

References
  1. Renee Maltezou and Angeliki Koutantou (4 January 2021), Greek PM keeps key ministers, seeks fresher image in cabinet makeover Reuters.
  2. Konstantinos Hatzidakis European Parliament.
  3. Schinas in Greek MEP re-shuffle European Voice, 3 October 2007.
  4. "Clashes as Greece gripped by fresh strike". BBC News. 15 December 2010.
  5. Squires, Nick (15 December 2010). "Former Greek minister attacked by mob as riots break out in Greece". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  6. Angeliki Koutantou (16 September 2019), Exclusive: Greece seeks new mining jobs, higher royalties in talks with Eldorado Reuters.
  7. Angeliki Koutantou (24 January 2020), Greece to sell troubled nickel producer Larco's assets: minister Reuters.
  8. Angeliki Koutantou (14 February 2020), Greece to start power distribution operator sale in September Reuters.
  9. Angeliki Koutantou (16 December 2019), Greece plans to sell 49% stake in power distribution network Reuters.
  10. Karolina Tagaris (12 May 2021), Greece presents contentious labour reform bill Reuters.
  11. Board of Governors European Investment Bank (EIB).
  12. Board of Governors: Kostis Hatzidakis European Stability Mechanism (ESM).
  13. Board of Governors International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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