Konstantinos Stephanopoulos

Konstantinos "Kostis" Stephanopoulos (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος (Κωστής) Στεφανόπουλος, 15 August 1926 – 20 November 2016) was a Greek conservative politician who served two consecutive terms as the president of Greece from 1995 to 2005.

Konstantinos Stephanopoulos
Κωσταντίνος Στεφανόπουλος
Stephanopoulos in 2000
President of Greece
In office
10 March 1995 – 12 March 2005
Prime Minister
Preceded byKonstantinos Karamanlis
Succeeded byKarolos Papoulias
Minister of the Presidency
In office
28 November 1977 – 21 October 1981
Prime Minister
Preceded byGeorgios Rallis
Succeeded byMenios Koutsogiorgas
Minister of Social Services
In office
10 September 1976 – 28 November 1977
Prime MinisterKonstantinos Karamanlis
Preceded byKonstantinos Chrysanthopoulos
Succeeded bySpyridon Doxiadis
Minister of the Interior
In office
21 November 1974 – 10 September 1976
Prime MinisterKonstantinos Karamanlis
Preceded byChristoforos Stratos
Succeeded byIppokratis Iordanoglou
Personal details
Born(1926-08-15)15 August 1926
Patras, Greece
Died20 November 2016(2016-11-20) (aged 90)
Athens, Greece
Resting placeFirst Cemetery of Patras
Political party
Spouse
Evgenia Stephanopoulou
​
​
(m. 1959; died 1988)​
Children3
Alma materNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Signature

Life and career

Stephanopoulos was born in Patras on 15 August 1926 to the lawyer and radiologist People's Party Member of Parliament Dimitrios Stephanopoulos, and Vrisiis Philopoulou.[1] After attending the Saint Andrew school of Patras, he studied law at Athens University. He practiced law from 1954 until 1974 as a member of the Patras Bar Association.[1]

He first stood for election in 1958, with the National Radical Union and was elected for the first time as MP for Achaea Prefecture in 1964. He was re-elected for the same constituency for New Democracy (ND) in 1974, 1977, 1981 and 1985.[1][2] He served as ND parliamentary secretary and parliamentary spokesman from 1981 to 1985.[1]

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 and Minister for the Presidency from 1977 to 1981.[1]

In August 1985 he resigned from ND after a disagreement with Konstantinos Mitsotakis and on 6 September formed Democratic Renewal (DIANA). He was elected Member of Parliament for Athens in the 1989 elections while continuing as the leader of DIANA, until it disbanded in June 1994.[1][2]

On 8 March 1995, after being nominated by the conservative Political Spring party and supported by the ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), he was elected President of Greece, winning the election on a third ballot of MPs with 181 votes. He was the fifth person to hold the post since the restoration of democratic rule in 1974. He was re-elected on 8 February 2000 on the first ballot, after receiving the support of 269 of the 298 MPs present. He remained in office until 2 March 2005, when he was succeeded by Karolos Papoulias.[1]

As a President he was known for his low-key profile, unifying approach to current and international affairs, and gentlemanly behaviour. During his presidency, he was consistently the most popular public figure in Greece.[3][4][5]

As head of state of the host country in the Opening Ceremony, he is the first President of the Hellenic Republic officially declare open the 2004 Summer Olympics of Athens, the Olympic Homecoming of the modern era on 13 August 2004. Stephanopoulos was accompanied by President's Adjutant Officer of the Hellenic Air Force, Colonel Georgios Dritsakos.

Stephanopoulos died in Henry Dunant Hospital, Athens, on 20 November 2016 at the age of 90. He had been hospitalised three days earlier, suffering from fever and severe respiratory difficulty, which later emerged as pneumonia.[6]

Family

Stephanopoulos was married for 29 years to Tzeni Stounopoulou, who died in 1988. The couple had three children.[1]

Honours and awards

Stephanopoulos received many honorary awards and the highest decorations of foreign countries. He was an honorary citizen of many Greek towns.

References
  1. "Πέθανε ο πρώην Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας Κωστής Στεφανόπουλος" [The former President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos has died]. in.gr. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  2. "Κοινοβουλευτική Θητεία Βουλευτών Από Τη Μεταπολίτευση Ως Σήμερα". Parliament.gr. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  3. Ο Γ. Παπανδρέου δημοφιλέστερος πολιτικός, Imerisia Online
  4. Πρώτος σε δημοτικότητα ο Κ. Στεφανόπουλος, Imerisia Online
  5. "Former Greek President Constantine Stephanopoulos dies at 90". Washington Post. 20 November 2016. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  6. "ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ: Έφυγε από τη ζωή ο πρώην Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας Κωστής Στεφανόπουλος". Amna.gr. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  7. "Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 21 października 1996 r. o nadaniu orderu". prawo.sejm.gov.pl. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  8. "Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentė". grybauskaite1.lrp.lt. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  9. "The Order of Sikatuna | GOVPH". Officialgazette.gov.ph.
  10. "BOE.es - Documento BOE-A-1998-12051". Boe.es. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  11. "Odluka o odlikovanju Njegove Ekselencije Constantinosa Stephanopoulosa, predsjednika Helenske Republike Veleredom kralja Tomislava s lentom i Velikom Danicom". Narodne-novine.nn.hr. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  12. "Seznam vseh odlikovancev od leta 1992 do decembra 2012" (in Slovenian). President of the Republic of Slovenia. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  13. "10542/AB XXIV. GP - Anfragebeantwortung" (PDF). Parlament.gv.at. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  14. "DECRET nr.202 din 15 iunie 1999 privind conferirea Ordinului naţional Steaua României în grad de Colan". Cdep.ro. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  15. "Vabariigi President". President.ee. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  16. Slovak republic website, State honours : 1st Class in 2000 (click on "Holders of the Order of the 1st Class White Double Cross" to see the holders' table)
  17. Icelandic Presidency Website (Icelandic), Order of the Falcon, Stephanopoulos, Constantinos Archived 26 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  18. "PAST RECIPIENTS OF HONORARY MEMBERSHIP IN MALTESE HONOURS AND AWARDS AND DATE OF CONFERMENT" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  19. "Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer". Kongehuset.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  20. www.gouvernement.lu/ Archived 1 August 2012 at archive.today, State visit of President Stephanopoulos in Luxembourg, July 2001
  21. "Triju Zvaigžņu ordeņa domē". LIKUMI.LV (in Latvian). Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  22. Received a copy of the key of the city of Tirana, 19.10.2004 Archived 5 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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