Costis Stephanopoulos

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(Redirected from Constantine Stephanopoulos)

Template:Cleanup-date Image:Kostantinos Stefanopoulos.png Constantinos Stephanopoulos is a Greek politician and ex-President of the Hellenic Republic. Stephanopoulos was born in Patras on 15 August 1926. He studied law at Athens University and 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 (ERE) and was elected for the first time as Member of Parliament for Achaia in 1964. He was re-elected for the same constituency with the New Democracy Party in the elections of 1974, 1977, 1981 and 1985. From 1981 until 1985 he served as parliamentary secretary and parliamentary spokesman for his party.

In 1974 he was 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 the New Democracy governments: Minister of the Interior from November 1974 to September 1976, Minister of Social Services from September 1976 to November 1977, Minister for the Presidency from 1977 to 1981.

In August 1985 he withdrew from the New Democracy Party and on 6 September of the same year formed the Democratic Renewal Party (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 libertarian Political Spring Party (POLΑΝ) and supported by the ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) he was elected President of the Republic on 8 March 1995. He became the fifth President since the restoration of a democratic system of government in 1974, winning the election on a third ballot with 181 votes.

Constantinos Stephanopoulos succeeded Constantine Karamanlis as President on 10 March 1995. He was re-elected President of the Republic on 8 February 2000 on the first ballot after receiving 269 votes from the 298 MPs present, and remained in office until 2 March 2005.

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.

In 2005 President Stephanopoulos was succeeded by Karolos Papoulias.

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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