Tzannis Tzannetakis
Encyclopedia
Tzannis Tzannetakis (13 September 1927 – 1 April 2010) was a Greek
politician who was briefly Prime Minister of Greece during the political crisis of 1989.
in the region of Mani
in 1927. He served as a naval officer but resigned on 22 April 1967, the day after the military coup d'état which brought the dictatorship of George Papadopoulos
to power. He was imprisoned by the regime from 1969 to 1971.
When democracy was restored in 1974, Tzannetakis joined the New Democracy
party of Constantine Karamanlis
, and was elected to the Greek Parliament in 1977. Between 1977 and the defeat of the ND government in 1981 he was at various times Minister for Public Works, Tourism, and Defence.
The Greek legislative election, June 1989 left the PASOK
party of Andreas Papandreou
in the minority. New Democracy
, however, now led by Constantine Mitsotakis
, could not form a government despite its significant lead in the popular vote, because of changes to Greek electoral law that PASOK had voted to effect before the elections. Tzannetakis was appointed Prime Minister in a government under an unlikely alliance with the left-wing Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos), which then included the Communist Party of Greece
.
Tzannetakis resigned when the Synaspismos withdrew its support in 1989. Yiannis Grivas
then formed a caretaker government until fresh elections could be held. New Democracy won these elections too, but once more could not form a government, despite tallying 46% of the vote, with PASOK coming second with 40%. An "ecumenical government", headed by Xenophon Zolotas
, with the participation of all three political parties (New Democracy, PASOK, Synaspismos) was formed, but fell within 4 months because of intense disagreements between its participants. New elections were held in 1990, where, for the third consecutive time within a year, New Democracy (Greece)
won with a significant lead of 8% over PASOK. This time ND managed to form a government under its leader, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, hinging on a small parliamentary majority of two representatives. Tzannetakis became Deputy Prime Minister in this government, a post he held until 1993. He was a member of the Hellenic Parliament till September 2007, when he announced his intention to retire from his political activity. That announcement was welcomed by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis as a call for renewal on the Greek political scene.
Tzannetakis died in an Athens hospital on 1 April 2010.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
politician who was briefly Prime Minister of Greece during the political crisis of 1989.
Biography
Tzannetakis was born in GytheioGytheio
Gytheio , the ancient Gythium or Gytheion , is a town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality East Mani, of which it is a municipal unit. It was the seaport of Sparta, some 40 km north...
in the region of Mani
Mani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula , also long known as Maina or Maïna, is a geographical and cultural region in Greece. Mani is the central peninsula of the three which extend southwards from the Peloponnese in southern Greece. To the east is the Laconian Gulf, to the west the Messenian Gulf...
in 1927. He served as a naval officer but resigned on 22 April 1967, the day after the military coup d'état which brought the dictatorship of George Papadopoulos
George Papadopoulos
Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos was the head of the military coup d'état that took place in Greece on 21 April 1967 and leader of the military government that ruled the country from 1967 to 1974. Papadopoulos was a Colonel of Artillery...
to power. He was imprisoned by the regime from 1969 to 1971.
When democracy was restored in 1974, Tzannetakis joined the New Democracy
New Democracy (Greece)
New Democracy is the main centre-right political party and one of the two major parties in Greece. It was founded in 1974 by Konstantinos Karamanlis and formed the first cabinet of the Third Hellenic Republic...
party of Constantine Karamanlis
Constantine Karamanlis
Konstantínos G. Karamanlís , commonly anglicised to Constantine Karamanlis or Caramanlis, was a four-time Prime Minister, the 3rd and 5th President of the Third Hellenic Republic and a towering figure of Greek politics whose political career spanned much of the latter half of the 20th century.-...
, and was elected to the Greek Parliament in 1977. Between 1977 and the defeat of the ND government in 1981 he was at various times Minister for Public Works, Tourism, and Defence.
The Greek legislative election, June 1989 left the PASOK
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...
party of Andreas Papandreou
Andreas Papandreou
Andreas G. Papandreou ; 5 February 1919 – 23 June 1996) was a Greek economist, a socialist politician and a dominant figure in Greek politics. The son of Georgios Papandreou, Andreas was a Harvard-trained academic...
in the minority. New Democracy
New Democracy (Greece)
New Democracy is the main centre-right political party and one of the two major parties in Greece. It was founded in 1974 by Konstantinos Karamanlis and formed the first cabinet of the Third Hellenic Republic...
, however, now led by Constantine Mitsotakis
Constantine Mitsotakis
Constantine Mitsotakis , a Greek politician, was born in Chania, Crete. He came from a political family: his father and grandfathers were members of parliament, and the great liberal leader Eleftherios Venizelos was his uncle...
, could not form a government despite its significant lead in the popular vote, because of changes to Greek electoral law that PASOK had voted to effect before the elections. Tzannetakis was appointed Prime Minister in a government under an unlikely alliance with the left-wing Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos), which then included the Communist Party of Greece
Communist Party of Greece
Founded in 1918, the Communist Party of Greece , better known by its acronym, ΚΚΕ , is the oldest party on the Greek political scene.- Foundation :...
.
Tzannetakis resigned when the Synaspismos withdrew its support in 1989. Yiannis Grivas
Yiannis Grivas
Ioannis Grivas , usually referred to as Yannis Grivas , , Greek judge, was the 87th Prime Minister of Greece who served as a non-party interim Prime Minister. Grivas was born in Kato Tithorea, Tithorea, Phthiotis in the region of Lokris. He studied law at the University of Athens and in 1954 he...
then formed a caretaker government until fresh elections could be held. New Democracy won these elections too, but once more could not form a government, despite tallying 46% of the vote, with PASOK coming second with 40%. An "ecumenical government", headed by Xenophon Zolotas
Xenophon Zolotas
Xenophon Zolotas , was a Greek economist and served as an interim non-party Prime Minister of Greece.-Early life and career:Born in Athens in 1904, Zolotas studied economics at the University of Athens, and later studied in Leipzig and Paris. He came from a wealthy family of goldsmiths with roots...
, with the participation of all three political parties (New Democracy, PASOK, Synaspismos) was formed, but fell within 4 months because of intense disagreements between its participants. New elections were held in 1990, where, for the third consecutive time within a year, New Democracy (Greece)
New Democracy (Greece)
New Democracy is the main centre-right political party and one of the two major parties in Greece. It was founded in 1974 by Konstantinos Karamanlis and formed the first cabinet of the Third Hellenic Republic...
won with a significant lead of 8% over PASOK. This time ND managed to form a government under its leader, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, hinging on a small parliamentary majority of two representatives. Tzannetakis became Deputy Prime Minister in this government, a post he held until 1993. He was a member of the Hellenic Parliament till September 2007, when he announced his intention to retire from his political activity. That announcement was welcomed by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis as a call for renewal on the Greek political scene.
Tzannetakis died in an Athens hospital on 1 April 2010.