Anastasios Peponis
Encyclopedia
Anastasios Peponis was a Greek
politician and author.
, Greece. During the Axis Occupation of Greece in the Second World War (1941–44), Peponis was an active member of two resistance
organizations: the Panhellenic Union of Fighting Youths
(PEAN) and the National Coalition of Higher Education Institutions (ESAS), being involved especially in the underground press.
After the war he studied Law, and began practice in 1952. In 1951-52, during his studies, he was leader of the Youth Section of the National Progressive Center Union
(EPEK). As the general director of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation in 1964-65 he founded the Experimental Channel which began Greek public television. During the Greek military junta of 1967–1974 he was arrested five times, imprisoned, held in solitary confinement
, and ordered into internal exile
.
After the junta's fall, he became a member of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement
(PASOK). From 1977 to 2000 he was elected with PASOK as a member of the Hellenic Parliament
for Athens. After the accession of Greece to the EEC on January 1, 1981, he became a provisional member of the European Parliament
representing Greece until the country could hold its first European Parliament elections
. In successive PASOK cabinets he held the portfolios of Industry and Energy (1981–82), Industry, Energy and Research (1986–89, 1989–90 and 1995). He was Minister without portfolio in 1984, Minister to the Presidency of the Government in 1989 and in 1993-94, Minister for Justice
in 1995, and Minister for Health and Welfare in 1996. In 1985-86, as MP he acted as the chief sponsor for the revision of the Greek Constitution.
As the minister responsible for energy policy he conceived of, negotiated and signed an agreement on importing natural gas
to Greece from the then-Soviet Union
and Algeria
and started its realization in 1987-88. In the same capacity, he proposed and oversaw a strategy for disengaging foreign companies searching for oil in the northern Aegean from issues of national security and international policy.
As Minister for Public Administration he introduced and secured passage for Law 2190/94 establishing the Supreme Council for Personnel Selection (ASEP) and the system of public hiring by means of objective criteria.
Peponis died on 8 August 2011. He was 87.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
politician and author.
Life
He was born in 1924 in AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece. During the Axis Occupation of Greece in the Second World War (1941–44), Peponis was an active member of two resistance
Greek Resistance
The Greek Resistance is the blanket term for a number of armed and unarmed groups from across the political spectrum that resisted the Axis Occupation of Greece in the period 1941–1944, during World War II.-Origins:...
organizations: the Panhellenic Union of Fighting Youths
Panhellenic Union of Fighting Youths
The Panhellenic Union of Fighting Youths , abbreviated as PEAN was a Greek Resistance organization during the Axis Occupation of Greece in the Second World War...
(PEAN) and the National Coalition of Higher Education Institutions (ESAS), being involved especially in the underground press.
After the war he studied Law, and began practice in 1952. In 1951-52, during his studies, he was leader of the Youth Section of the National Progressive Center Union
National Progressive Center Union
The National Progressive Center Union was a Greek political party.It was established in 1949 by General Nikolaos Plastiras and attracted a following of disappointed Liberals and left-leaning democrats. It preached a message of national conciliation, which put it in conflict with the rightist...
(EPEK). As the general director of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation in 1964-65 he founded the Experimental Channel which began Greek public television. During the Greek military junta of 1967–1974 he was arrested five times, imprisoned, held in solitary confinement
Solitary confinement
Solitary confinement is a special form of imprisonment in which a prisoner is isolated from any human contact, though often with the exception of members of prison staff. It is sometimes employed as a form of punishment beyond incarceration for a prisoner, and has been cited as an additional...
, and ordered into internal exile
Internal Exile
Internal Exile was Fish's second solo album after leaving Marillion in 1988. The album, released 28 October 1991, was inspired by the singer's past, his own personal problems and his troubled experiences with his previous record label EMI.The album's music reflects Fish's indulgence in the vast...
.
After the junta's fall, he became a member of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement
Panhellenic Socialist Movement
The Panhellenic Socialist Movement , known mostly by its acronym PASOK , is one of the two major political parties in Greece. Founded on 3 September 1974 by Andreas Papandreou, in 1981 PASOK became Greece's first social democratic party to win a majority in parliament.The party is a socialist party...
(PASOK). From 1977 to 2000 he was elected with PASOK as a member of the Hellenic Parliament
Hellenic Parliament
The Hellenic Parliament , also the Parliament of the Hellenes, is the Parliament of Greece, located in the Parliament House , overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece....
for Athens. After the accession of Greece to the EEC on January 1, 1981, he became a provisional member of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
representing Greece until the country could hold its first European Parliament elections
European Parliament election, 1981 (Greece)
The European Parliament election of 1981 in Greece was the election of the delegation from Greece to the European Parliament in 1981. The rest of the European Community voted in 1979 before Greece became a member state...
. In successive PASOK cabinets he held the portfolios of Industry and Energy (1981–82), Industry, Energy and Research (1986–89, 1989–90 and 1995). He was Minister without portfolio in 1984, Minister to the Presidency of the Government in 1989 and in 1993-94, Minister for Justice
Minister for Justice (Greece)
The Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights is a government department of Greece entrusted with the supervision of the country's legal and judicial system. It was founded as the State Justice Secretariat in April 1833, and was known as the Ministry of Justice until October 2009...
in 1995, and Minister for Health and Welfare in 1996. In 1985-86, as MP he acted as the chief sponsor for the revision of the Greek Constitution.
As the minister responsible for energy policy he conceived of, negotiated and signed an agreement on importing natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
to Greece from the then-Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and started its realization in 1987-88. In the same capacity, he proposed and oversaw a strategy for disengaging foreign companies searching for oil in the northern Aegean from issues of national security and international policy.
As Minister for Public Administration he introduced and secured passage for Law 2190/94 establishing the Supreme Council for Personnel Selection (ASEP) and the system of public hiring by means of objective criteria.
Peponis died on 8 August 2011. He was 87.