Konstantinos Stephanopoulos | |
|---|---|
| Κωνσταντίνος Στεφανόπουλος | |
 Stephanopoulos in 2000 | |
| President of Greece | |
| In office 10 March 1995 – 12 March 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Konstantinos Karamanlis |
| Succeeded by | Karolos Papoulias |
| Minister of the Presidency | |
| In office 28 November 1977 – 21 October 1981 | |
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Georgios Rallis |
| Succeeded by | Menios Koutsogiorgas |
| Minister of Social Services | |
| In office 10 September 1976 – 28 November 1977 | |
| Prime Minister | Konstantinos Karamanlis |
| Preceded by | Konstantinos Chrysanthopoulos |
| Succeeded by | Spyridon Doxiadis |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 21 November 1974 – 10 September 1976 | |
| Prime Minister | Konstantinos Karamanlis |
| Preceded by | Christoforos Stratos |
| Succeeded by | Ippokratis Iordanoglou |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1926-08-15)15 August 1926 Patras, Greece |
| Died | 20 November 2016(2016-11-20) (aged 90) Athens, Greece |
| Resting place | First Cemetery of Patras |
| Political party |
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| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | National and Kapodistrian University of Athens |
| Signature |  |
Konstantinos "Kostis"Stephanopoulos (Greek:Κωνσταντίνος (Κωστής) Στεφανόπουλος, 15 August 1926 – 20 November 2016) was aGreek conservative politician who served two consecutive terms as thepresident of Greece from 1995 to 2005.
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Stephanopoulos was born inPatras on 15 August 1926 to the lawyer, radiologist, andMember of ParliamentDimitrios Stephanopoulos [el], and Vrisiis Philopoulou.[1] After attending the Saint Andrew school of Patras, he studied law atAthens University. He practiced law from 1954 until 1974 as a member of the Patras Bar Association.[1]
He first stood for election in1958, with theNational Radical Union and was elected for the first time as MP forAchaea Prefecture in1964. He was re-elected for the same constituency forNew Democracy (ND) in1974,1977,1981 and1985.[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 ofConstantine 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 andMinister for the Presidency from 1977 to 1981.[1]
In August 1985 he resigned from ND after a disagreement withKonstantinos Mitsotakis and on 6 September formedDemocratic Renewal (DIANA). He was elected Member of Parliament for Athens in the1989 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 conservativePolitical Spring party and supported by the rulingPanhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), he was electedPresident of Greece,winning the election on a third ballot of MPs with 181 votes. He was the fifth person to hold the post since therestoration of democratic rule in 1974. He wasre-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 byKarolos 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 theOpening Ceremony, he is the firstPresident of the Hellenic Republic officially declare open the2004 Summer Olympics ofAthens, the Olympic Homecoming of the modern era on 13 August 2004. Stephanopoulos was accompanied byAdjutant to the President of the Hellenic Republic,Air ForceColonelGeorgios Dritsakos.
Stephanopoulos died inHenry 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 aspneumonia.[6]
Stephanopoulos was married for 29 years to Tzeni Stounopoulou, who died in 1988. The couple had three children.[1]
Stephanopoulos received many honorary awards and the highest decorations of foreign countries. He was an honorary citizen of many Greek towns.
Poland :Order of the White Eagle (1996)[7]
Lithuania : Grand Cross of theOrder of Vytautas the Great (21 February 1997)[8]
Philippines :Order of Sikatuna (23 June 1997)[9]
Spain : Collar of theOrder of Charles III (22 May 1998)[10]
Croatia :Grand Order of King Tomislav ("For outstanding contribution to promoting friendly relations and developing mutual cooperation between the Republic of Croatia and the Hellenic Republic." – 3 December 1998)[11]
Slovenia :Golden Order of Freedom (1999).[12]
Austria : Grand Star of theDecoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (1999)[13]
Romania : Collar ofOrder of the Star of Romania (1999)[14]
Sweden : Knight of theRoyal Order of the Seraphim (24 April 1999)
Estonia : Collar of theOrder of the Cross of Terra Mariana (4 May 1999)[15]Lithuania : Grand Cross of theOrder of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (1 July 1999)[8]
Slovakia : Grand Cross (or 1st Class) of theOrder of the White Double Cross (2000)[16]
Portugal : Grand Collar of theOrder of Prince Henry (21 February 2000)
Italy : Knight Grand Cross with Grand Cordon of theOrder of Merit of the Italian Republic (23 January 2001)
Iceland : Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of the Falcon (18 September 2001)[17]
Vatican : Knight with the Collar of theOrder of Pope Pius IX (2002)
Malta :National Order of Merit (Malta) (5 September 2002)[18]
Norway : Grand Cross of theOrder of St. Olav (7 June 2004)[19]
Luxembourg : Knight of theOrder of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau[20]
Latvia : Grand CrossOrder of the Three Stars[21]
Albania : Received a copy of the key of the city ofTirana on the occasion of his state visit to Albania.[22]
Azerbaijan : Honorary Doctor Degree,Azerbaijan State University of Economics
Media related toKonstantinos Stefanopoulos at Wikimedia Commons| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Minister of the Interior 1974–1976 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Social Services 1976–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of the Presidency 1977–1981 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of Greece 1995–2005 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| New political party | President ofDemocratic Renewal 1985–1994 | Party disbanded |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
