List of political families in Greece explained
This article lists political families of Greece where two or more members of that family have been members or ministers of the Hellenic Parliament, the Greek Senate or of the European Parliament.
For the purposes of this list, a "family" has been defined as a group of people where each person has one of the following relationships to at least one of the other people listed:
- son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter
- father, mother, grandfather or grandmother
- nephew, niece, grandnephew or grandniece
- uncle, aunt, great uncle or great aunt
- sibling and first cousin
- spouse (husband or wife)
- connected by marriage ("-in-law" relationships)
The list has been indexed against the name of the first family member to enter one of the bodies mentioned above.
History
Political dynasties have long been a feature of the Greek political landscape. They are typically characterized as families that have established their political careers usually starting from local politics and gradually moving upwards to national government or other positions of national politics. Political dynasties usually have a strong, consolidated support base, and this background and the personalities of individual members are often as important as the political positions and parties they represent. Members of such dynasties usually do not limit their involvement to political activities, and may participate in business or cultural activities. There have also been intermarriages between the political families as well.
Political dynasties started emerging in the 19th century after the Greek War of Independence and the independence of Greece. However, political dynasties became a prominent feature in Greek politics from the 20th century onwards. Among the many Greek political dynasties, the most prominent have been the Venizelos, Karamanlis, Papandreou and Mitsotakis/Bakoyannis families.
A
- Konstantinos Alavanos (1872–1958): Liberal Party MP ca. 1915–1936
- Gerasimos Arsenis (1931–2016): PASOK MP and Minister for National Economy 1982–85, Economics 1984–85, Mercantile Marine 1985, Defence 1993–96, and Education 1996–2000
- his wife Louka Katseli, (born 1952): PASOK MP and Minister for the Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping (2009–10) and Minister for Labour and Social Security (2010–11).
D
F
elected first mayor of Odessa in 1796
- his son Nicolas Flogaitis: Greek supreme court judge
- his son Theodore Flogaitis (died 1905): professor of constitutional law
- his son Ioannis Flogaitis (1906-?): lawyer and politician on Lefkada
- his son Spyridon Flogaitis (born 1950): professor of public law at the University of Athens, interim Minister of the Interior 2007 and 2009
- his daughter-in-law Photini Pazartzis: professor of international law at the University of Athens
G
- Georgios Gennimatas (1939–1994): PASOK MP and Minister for the Interior 1981–84, Health 1984–87, Labour (1987–89) and National Economy (1989, 1993–94)
- his daughter Fofi Gennimata (1964–2021): PASOK MP and super-prefect for Athens and Piraeus 2003–09, Deputy Minister for Health 2009–10 and Education 2010–11, Deputy Minister of the Interior 2011–12, PASOK president 2015–2021
K
- Konstantinos Kanaris (ca. 1790–1877): hero of the Greek War of Independence, admiral and Prime Minister 1844, 1848–49, 1864, 1864–65 and 1877
- his son Nikolaos Kanaris (1818–1848): diplomat and MP
- his son Miltiadis Kanaris (1822–1901): admiral, minister and MP
- his son Epaminondas Kanaris: MP
- his son Alexandros Kanaris (1864–1944): minister and MP
- his son Lykourgos Kanaris (1826–1865): naval officer and lawyer
- his son Napoleon Kanaris: MP
- his son Aristeidis Kanaris (1831–1863): army officer
- his son Themistoklis Kanaris: consul, MP and collaborator of Charilaos Trikoupis
- his son Ioannis Kanaris: MP
- Andreas Karagounis (1943–2012): New Democracy MP for Aetolia-Acarnania 1989–2000, 2004–2009
- Konstantinos Karamanlis (1907–1998): Greek Rally MP, founder of National Radical Union, Prime Minister 1955–63 and 1974–80, President of the Republic 1980–85 and 1990–95
- his brother Achilleas Karamanlis (born 1929): New Democracy MP for Serres 1974–2009 and cabinet minister
- his nephew Kostas Karamanlis (born 1956): New Democracy MP, Prime Minister 2004–09 (Kostas Karamanlis' father Alekos was Konstantinos Karamanlis' brother)
- his nephew Michalis Liapis, New Democracy MP and Minister for Transport (2004–07) and Culture (2007–09) (Liapis' mother Antigoni was Konstantinos Karamanlis' sister)
- Ioannis Kefalogiannis (1933–2012): National Radical Union and New Democracy MP and cabinet minister
- Nikos Konstantopoulos (born 1942): Minister of the Interior 1989, MP for Synaspismos 1990–93 and 1996–2007, leader of Synaspismos 1993–2004
- Diomidis Kyriakos (1811–1869): Prime Minister 1863
- Michail Kyrkos (1893-1967): MP for the Liberal Party, Progressive Party, People's Party and the United Democratic Left.
M
P
R
S
- Dimitrios Stephanopoulos (1885–1973): MP for Achaea (1920-22, 1926-28, 1932-35), Minister for Market Regulations (1935), Minister for Supplies (1946)
T
- Georgios Theotokis (1844–1916): Prime Minister 1899–1901, 1903 and 1903–04 and 1905–09
- Spyridon Trikoupis (1788–1873): Prime Minister 1833, ambassador to London 1835–1838, 1841–1843 and 1850–1861
- his son Charilaos Trikoupis (1832–1896): Prime Minister 1875, 1878, 1880, 1882–85, 1886–90, 1892–93 and 1893–95
- Panagis Tsaldaris (1868–1936): Prime Minister 1932–33 and 1933–35
- Georgios Tzitzikostas (1941–2000): New Democracy MP for Thessaloniki/Thessaloniki B 1974–2000, Minister for Macedonia-Thrace 1990–91
V
Z
- Thrasyvoulos Zaimis (1825–1889): Prime Minister 1869–70 and 1871
- his son Alexandros Zaimis (1855–1936): Prime Minister 1897–99, 1901–02, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1926–1928, President of Greece 1929–35