Nikolaos Chountis Explained

Nikolaos Chountis
Native Name:Νικόλαος Χουντής
Honorific-Suffix:MEP
Parliament:European
Constituency Mp:Greece
Term Start:2014
Predecessor:Manolis Glezos
Term Start2:14 July 2009
Term End2:30 June 2014
Term Start3:15 April 2004
Term End3:19 July 2004
Predecessor3:Alekos Alavanos
Office4:Alternate Minister of European Affairs
Term Start4:27 January 2015
Term End4:13 July 2015
Successor4:Sia Anagnostopoulou
Office5:Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Athens B
Term Start5:25 January 2015
Term End5:13 July 2015
Successor5:Georgios Miltiadi Kyritsis
Birth Place:Langadia, Arcadia, Greece
Nationality:Greek
Party:Popular Unity
Spouse:Dr Evmorfia Sagkana
Alma Mater:National Technical University of Athens
Panteion University
Occupation:Electrical engineer and politician
Mawards:is not set -->
Term End:2019

Nikolaos Chountis (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Νικόλαος Χουντής; born 17 September 1953 in Langadia, Arcadia) is a Greek politician and former Member of the European Parliament, currently serving as General Secretary of the political party Popular Unity.

Early life and education

Chountis was born in Langadia, Arcadia. He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and with a degree in political science from the Panteion University.

Political career

On 15 April 2004, Chountis succeeded Alekos Alavanos in his role as a Member of the European Parliament for Greece. Chountis served until 19 July 2004, following the 2004 European Parliament election. During this period he represented Synaspismos.

Following the 2009 European Parliament election, Chountis was elected as a Syriza Member of European Parliament. He served until 2014 as Syriza's only MEP.

Following the January 2015 Greek legislative election, he was elected a Member of the Hellenic Parliament for the Athens B constituency, representing Syriza. On 27 January 2015, he was appointed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras as the Alternate Minister of European Affairs in his cabinet.

A member of the Syriza's Left Platform, Hountis was internally opposed to the government's bridge agreement in February.[1] On 13 July 2015, following Tsipras' agreement with the European creditors and well ahead of the parliamentary vote, Hountis resigned from his ministerial office to be replaced by Sia Anagnostopoulou. He also resigned from Parliament and was succeeded by Giorgos Kyritsis.[2] [3]

Succeeding the retired Manolis Glezos on 20 July 2015, he once again became a Member of the European Parliament.

On 26 August 2015, he defected to Popular Unity, alongside 52 other members of Syriza's central committee.[4] He becomes Popular Unity's only MEP.

Personal life

Chountis is married to Dr Evmorfia Sagkana.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stathis . Kouvelakis . Syriza on a Tightrope . . 6 March 2015 . 10 August 2015.
  2. Web site: SYRIZA MP and minister Nikos Hountis resigns . . 13 July 2015 . 10 August 2015.
  3. Web site: Terms of Office of Nikolaos Chountis. Hellenic Parliament. 11 August 2015.
  4. Web site: Μαζικές παραιτήσεις: Εκτός ΣΥΡΙΖΑ ο Χουντής και άλλοι 52. August 26, 2015. ProtoThema.
  5. Web site: CV of Nikolaos Chountis. Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 11 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150415095447/http://www.mfa.gr/en/leadership/the-deputy-ministers/alternate-foreign-minister-for-european-affairs.html. 15 April 2015.