Alekos Papadopoulos
{{Short description|Greek politician}}
Alekos Papadopoulos ({{langx|el|Αλέκος Παπαδόπουλος}}; b. 1949 in Giromeri, Thesprotia{{Cite web |last=Papadopoulos |first=Alekos |title=Βιογραφικό σημείωμα |url=http://www.apapadopoulos.gr/main/ministergr/ministergr.htm |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=apapadopoulos.gr |language=el}}) is a Greek lawyer and politician of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). He is a former Member of Parliament and was a minister three different times.{{Cite web|title=The Greek crisis – is there a way out?|url=https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/112046/the-greek-crisis-is-there-a-way-out/|access-date=2021-05-01|website=Imperial College London|language=en-GB}}
Political career
Between 1989 and 2004 he was a Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Thesprotia representing the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). In 1994 Papadopoulos assumed as Minister of Economics.{{Cite web|title=The Former Greek Finance Minister Who Tried to Warn His Country About the Crisis|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/greek-ex-finance-minister-alekos-papadopoulos-interview-876/|access-date=2021-05-01|website=Vice.com|language=en}} During his tenure he oversaw the structural adjustments which Greece had to undertake to enter the European Economic and Monetary Union. He initiated major reforms in the taxation of companies and also in the education of future civil servants establishing a School of Economics associated with the Ministry of Economics. From September 1996 onwards until February 1999 he acted as the Minister for Internal Affairs, Public Administration and Decentralization. As such, he implemented several reforms, most notably the “Kapodistrias plan", restructuring Greece in new administrative regions.{{Cite web|last=Konstandaras|first=Nikos|date=15 June 2002|title=Reform and revolution {{!}} eKathimerini.com|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/6460/reform-and-revolution/|access-date=2021-05-01|website=www.ekathimerini.com|language=English}} In February 1999 he was forced to resign over accusations to have collaborated with Turkey in the capture of Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).{{Cite news|last=Smyth|first=Patrick|title=Ocalan appeals to Europe, Greek ministers resign|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ocalan-appeals-to-europe-greek-ministers-resign-1.154559|access-date=2021-05-01|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Stanley|first=Alessandra|author-link=Alessandra Stanley|date=1999-02-19|title=3 Greek Officials Removed Over Rebel Kurd's Capture|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/19/world/3-greek-officials-removed-over-rebel-kurd-s-capture.html|access-date=2021-05-01|issn=0362-4331}} In April 2000 he was appointed Minister of Health.{{Cite web|last=|title=Minister pays for heralding his retirement {{!}} eKathimerini.com|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/6333/minister-pays-for-heralding-his-retirement/|access-date=2021-05-01|website=Ekathimerini|language=English}} In June 2002, he announced that he would not present himself as a candidate in the upcoming elections, but still mentioned he would implement the reforms he had initiated.{{Cite web|last=Newsroom|title=A shock for PASOK {{!}} eKathimerini.com|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/6133/a-shock-for-pasok/|access-date=2021-05-01|website=www.ekathimerini.com|language=English}} This caused some frictions within the PASOK party specially with Prime Minister Costas Simitis who was disappointed that such a popular politician would leave his team{{Cite web|last=Newsroom|title=Simitis said to be furious with minister {{!}} eKathimerini.com|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/6159/simitis-said-to-be-furious-with-minister/|access-date=2021-05-01|website=www.ekathimerini.com|language=English}} and dismissed him a few days after.{{Cite news|last=Carassava (NYT)|first=Anthee|date=2002-06-11|title=World Briefing {{!}} Europe: Greece: Fired Before He Could Quit|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/11/world/world-briefing-europe-greece-fired-before-he-could-quit.html|access-date=2021-05-01|issn=0362-4331}} As a former minister he often comments on the political situation or criticizes the financial politics of the Greek government.{{Cite web|title=The Former Greek Finance Minister Who Tried to Warn His Country About the Crisis|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/greek-ex-finance-minister-alekos-papadopoulos-interview-876/|access-date=2021-10-01|website=Vice|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Stevis|first=Matina|date=2015-07-11|title=The Politicians Who Warned Greece—but Were Ignored|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-greek-politicians-who-flagged-structural-problemsbut-were-ignored-1436612782|access-date=2021-10-01|issn=0099-9660}} In 2018, he doubted that Greece would be able to stay within the Eurozone.{{Cite web|last=|date=5 July 2018|title=Former finance minister: Greece will not remain in eurozone with existing politicians|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/230389/former-finance-minister-greece-will-not-remain-in-eurozone-with-existing-politicians/|access-date=2021-10-01|website=Ekathimerini|language=English}}
References
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Category:Finance ministers of Greece
Category:Ministers of the interior of Greece
Category:Health ministers of Greece