Nikos Filis
{{short description|Greek politician and journalist}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Nikos Filis
{{small|Νίκος Φίλης}}
|honorific-suffix = MP
|image = Nikos Filis May 2015.jpg
| office = Minister of Education and Religious Affairs
|primeminister = Alexis Tsipras
|term_start = 23 September 2015
|term_end = 5 November 2016
|predecessor = Frosso Kiaou
|successor = Kostas Gabroglou
|office3 = Member of the Hellenic Parliament
for Athens A
|term_start3 = 25 January 2015
|term_end3 =
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1960}}
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Syriza
|spouse =
|alma_mater = University of Athens
}}
Nikos Filis ({{langx|el|Νίκος Φίλης}}) is a Greek politician and journalist. He held the office of the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs of Greece from 23 September 2015 to 5 November 2016.
Early life and education
Filis was born in Athens in 1960. He studied law at the University of Athens and was heavily involved in protests at the time. He was a member of both the Central Committee and Senate of the national students union, EFEE, and was secretary of the youth of the Communist Party of Greece (Interior).{{Cite web |url=http://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1006854/to-biografiko-tou-neou-upourgou-paideias-nikou-fili |title="Το βιογραφικό του νέου υπουργού Παιδείας Νίκου Φίλη" at naftemporiki.gr |access-date=2016-05-30 |archive-date=2016-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630030215/http://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1006854/to-biografiko-tou-neou-upourgou-paideias-nikou-fili |url-status=live }}
Journalism
Since 2008, Filis has been the director of the Greek newspaper Dawn. He has been a member of the board of the Greek journalists union, ESIEA. He has worked as an editor at various radio stations, including FLASH, Polis, VimaFm and EPA 4. He has written a number of articles on politics for newspapers Ta Nea, Epochi and the magazines Anti and Politis. He also contributed to the Encyclopedia of the Greek Press.
Political career
Filis is a member of the Central Committee of Syriza. In March 2015, Filis was one of only five Syriza MPs to turn down the offer of a state car.{{cite news|last1=Skordas|first1=Aggelos|title=Only Five SYRIZA MPs Refuse State Cars Despite Tsipras' Plea|url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/03/10/only-five-syriza-mps-refuse-state-cars-despite-tsipras-plea/|accessdate=17 March 2016|work=Greek Reporter|date=10 March 2015|archive-date=9 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309103033/http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/03/10/only-five-syriza-mps-refuse-state-cars-despite-tsipras-plea/|url-status=live}} In an interview with Mega TV in May 2015, Filis stated that: "A state must be ready for every eventuality. A Greek default is a concern of the whole of Europe. There is a systemic risk there. The chosen strategy is to negotiate an agreement but we are ready for every possible outcome."{{cite news|last1=Chrysopoulos|first1=Philip|title=SYRIZA MP: Greece Is Prepared for All Possible Scenarios|url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/05/29/syriza-mp-greece-is-prepared-for-all-possible-scenarios/|accessdate=17 March 2016|work=Greek Reporter|date=29 May 2015}}
As minister of Education and Religious Affairs he clashed with Archbishop Ieronymos about teaching of the religion course in Schools.{{cite news |title=Outgoing Education Minister Filis lashes out at archbishop, PM |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/213469/outgoing-education-minister-filis-lashes-out-at-archbishop-pm/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |agency=ekathimerini |archive-date=30 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430130152/https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/213469/outgoing-education-minister-filis-lashes-out-at-archbishop-pm/ |url-status=live }} {{cite news |title=Syriza at odds with Orthodox clergy over religious teaching plans |url=https://www.ft.com/content/79d56ad8-8fe1-11e6-8df8-d3778b55a923 |access-date=30 April 2022 |agency=Financial Times |archive-date=30 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430130151/https://www.ft.com/content/79d56ad8-8fe1-11e6-8df8-d3778b55a923 |url-status=live }}
Genocide denial
Filis denied the Pontic Greek Genocide, an illegal act in Greece.{{Cite web|url = http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/11/03/greek-education-minister-rejects-pontic-genocide-causes-uproar/|title = Greek Education Minister Rejects Pontic Genocide; Causes Uproar|date = 3 November 2015|access-date = 11 May 2016|archive-date = 25 April 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160425051122/http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/11/03/greek-education-minister-rejects-pontic-genocide-causes-uproar/|url-status = live}} Many calls were made for him to step down and have his parliamentary immunity stripped so he can be prosecuted. Filis has yet to face prosecution for his Genocide denial. He has also removed the Pontic Genocide from the high school curriculum.{{Cite web|url = http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/11/04/pontic-community-calls-for-protest-in-athens-as-pontic-genocide-is-removed-from-high-school-curriculum/|title = Pontic Community Calls for Protest in Athens as Pontic Genocide is Removed from High School Curriculum|date = 4 November 2015|access-date = 11 May 2016|archive-date = 5 April 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160405093214/http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/11/04/pontic-community-calls-for-protest-in-athens-as-pontic-genocide-is-removed-from-high-school-curriculum/|url-status = live}}