Liberalism in Greece
Encyclopedia
This article gives an overview of liberalism in Greece
. It is limited to liberal
parties
. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.
, republicanism
and democracy
.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It is limited to liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.
Background
Liberal parties in Greece are largely committed to liberalismLiberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
, republicanism
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
and democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
.
From Modernist Party to the Center Union
- 1875: The Modernist PartyLiberal Party (Greece) (1875)The New Party sometimes, the Modernist Party. was a reformist Greek political party.-Political background:...
(Neoteristikon Komma) is formed - 1910: A resurrected Liberal PartyLiberal Party (Greece)The Liberal Party was one of the major Greek political parties of the early 20th century.- History :Founded as the Xipoliton party in Crete , its early leaders were Kostis Mitsotakis and Eleftherios Venizelos...
(Komma Fileleftheron) is formed under Eleftherios VenizelosEleftherios VenizelosEleftherios Venizelos was an eminent Greek revolutionary, a prominent and illustrious statesman as well as a charismatic leader in the early 20th century. Elected several times as Prime Minister of Greece and served from 1910 to 1920 and from 1928 to 1932... - 1935: Faction around Georgios PapandreouGeorge Papandreou (senior)Georgios Papandreou was a Greek politician, the founder of the Papandreou political dynasty. He served three terms as Prime Minister of Greece...
forms the ⇒ Democratic Socialist Party of GreeceDemocratic Socialist Party of GreeceThe Democratic Socialist Party of Greece was a political party founded by George Papandreou in 1935.The party emerged from a split in the Liberal Party.The party was replaced in 1950 with the formation of the Georgios Papandreou Party.... - 1936: All political parties are banned in Greece under Ioannis MetaxasIoannis MetaxasIoannis Metaxas was a Greek general, politician, and dictator, serving as Prime Minister of Greece from 1936 until his death in 1941...
' dictatorship, but a liberal movement remained present - 1941: The Greek government in exile contains mostly liberal politicians
- 1946: Start of the Greek Civil WarGreek Civil WarThe Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, lasting until 1949 - 1946: Liberal fraction led by Themistoklis SophoulisThemistoklis SophoulisThemistoklis Sofoulis or Sophoulis was a prominent centrist Greek politician from Samos Island, belonging to the centre-left wing of the Liberal Party, which he led for many years.-Early life:...
continues under the Liberal Party name - 1956: Liberal Party takes part in the elections of 1956 in the Liberal Democratic UnionLiberal Democratic Union (Greece)The Liberal Democratic Union was a coalition of six Greek political parties for the elections of 1956.Its main leader was Sofoklis Venizelos. Members to the coalition were:* Republican Union* Liberal Party * United Democratic Left...
(Filelefthero Dimokratiko Kentro) coalition - 1961: Liberal Party merges into the ⇒ Center UnionCenter UnionThe Centre Union was a Greek political party, created in 1961 by George Papandreou, senior.The party was elected to power in 1963, with Papandreou as Prime Minister...
From Democratic Socialist Party to the Center Union
- 1935: A faction of the ⇒ Liberal Party around Georgios PapandreouGeorge Papandreou (senior)Georgios Papandreou was a Greek politician, the founder of the Papandreou political dynasty. He served three terms as Prime Minister of Greece...
forms the Democratic Socialist Party of GreeceDemocratic Socialist Party of GreeceThe Democratic Socialist Party of Greece was a political party founded by George Papandreou in 1935.The party emerged from a split in the Liberal Party.The party was replaced in 1950 with the formation of the Georgios Papandreou Party.... - 1936: All political parties are banned in Greece under Ioannis MetaxasIoannis MetaxasIoannis Metaxas was a Greek general, politician, and dictator, serving as Prime Minister of Greece from 1936 until his death in 1941...
' dictatorship, but a liberal movement remained present - 1941: The Greek government in exile contains mostly liberal politicians
- 1946: Start of the Greek Civil WarGreek Civil WarThe Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, lasting until 1949 - 1946: Liberal faction led by Georgios PapandreouGeorge Papandreou (senior)Georgios Papandreou was a Greek politician, the founder of the Papandreou political dynasty. He served three terms as Prime Minister of Greece...
is part of the National Political UnionNational Political UnionThe National Political Union, better known as EPEN was a Greek far-right political party. The party was founded on January 30, 1984 by jailed former junta leader Georgios Papadopoulos. It participated in the 1985 general election...
alliance - 1956: Liberal faction led by Georgios PapandreouGeorge Papandreou (senior)Georgios Papandreou was a Greek politician, the founder of the Papandreou political dynasty. He served three terms as Prime Minister of Greece...
is part of the Liberal Democratic UnionLiberal Democratic Union (Greece)The Liberal Democratic Union was a coalition of six Greek political parties for the elections of 1956.Its main leader was Sofoklis Venizelos. Members to the coalition were:* Republican Union* Liberal Party * United Democratic Left...
coalition
National Progressive Union of the Centre
- 1949: National Progressive Union of the Centre (Ethniki Proodeutiki Enosis Kentrou, EPEK) is founded by Nikolaos PlastirasNikolaos PlastirasNikolaos Plastiras was a Greek general and politician, who served thrice as Prime Minister of Greece. A distinguished soldier and known for his personal bravery, he was known as "O Mavros Kavalaris" during the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922...
after the Greek Civil War and disappears in 1956
From Center Union to Union of the Democratic Center
- 1961: Georgios Papandreou forms the Center UnionCenter UnionThe Centre Union was a Greek political party, created in 1961 by George Papandreou, senior.The party was elected to power in 1963, with Papandreou as Prime Minister...
(Enosi Kentrou) - 1967: Start of the Military JuntaGreek military junta of 1967-1974The Greek military junta of 1967–1974, alternatively "The Regime of the Colonels" , or in Greece "The Junta", and "The Seven Years" are terms used to refer to a series of right-wing military governments that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974...
continuing until 1974 - 1974: Center Union - New ForcesCenter Union - New ForcesCentre Union – New Forces was the continuation of the Centre Union party of George Papandreou after the military junta...
(Enosi Kentrou-Nees Dynameis) is formed by George Mavros - 1976: Union of the Democratic Centre is formed as successor of the Center Union - New Forces
Democratic Center Union
- 1974: Ioannis Zigdis forms the Democratic Center Union which merges into the ⇒ Union of the Democratic Centre in 1976
Party of New Liberals
- 1977: Constantine MitsotakisConstantine MitsotakisConstantine 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...
forms the Party of New LiberalsParty of New LiberalsThe Party of New Liberals was a shortly lived liberal political party in Greece.The party was founded by Constantine Mitsotakis in 1977. It took part in only one election, that of 1977, where it obtained 1.08% of the vote and two seats in the Hellenic Parliament .The New Liberals merged into the...
which merges into New DemocracyNew 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...
in 1978
Liberal Party
- 1981: Nikitas Venizelos revives the Liberal PartyLiberal Party (Greece)The Liberal Party was one of the major Greek political parties of the early 20th century.- History :Founded as the Xipoliton party in Crete , its early leaders were Kostis Mitsotakis and Eleftherios Venizelos...
of his grandfather, which has participated in elections since.
Democratic Renewal
- 1984: Costis StephanopoulosCostis StephanopoulosKonstantinos Stephanopoulos was the sixth President of the Third Hellenic Republic.Stephanopoulos was born in Patras. After attending the Saint Andrew school of Patras, he studied law at Athens University...
withdraws from New Democracy and forms the Democratic RenewalDemocratic RenewalDemocratic Renewal was a Greek political party founded by Konstantinos Stephanopoulos on September 6, 1985. It continued to exist until June 1994....
(Dimokratiki Ananeosi), a party that continues to exist until end 1994
Union of Centrists
- 1992: Union of CentristsUnion of CentristsThe Union of Centrists is a political party in Greece without parliamentary representation.The party was founded by Vassilis Leventis in 1992 under the title "Union of Centrists and Ecologists". The name was changed shortly after. This party is continued by the old party Center Union.The party...
(Enosi Kentroon) is founded by Vassilis LeventisVassilis LeventisVassilis Leventis is a Greek politician, leader of the Greek centrist party, Union of Centrists .-Early life:Vassilis Leventis is the fourth child of Apostolos and Gregoria Leventis. Leventis family moved to Piraeus where Vassilis Leventis graduated from high school and in 1969 he was admitted to...
The Liberals
- 1999: A short-lived libertarianLibertarianismLibertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
party is founded by Stefanos ManosStefanos ManosStefanos Manos is a Greek politician, former member of the Hellenic Parliament as independent, and a former government minister. His political career started in the New Democracy party, for which he became a Member of Parliament in 1977. During the 1980s he would be the unpopular forerunner of...
, The LiberalsThe Liberals (Greece)The Liberals was a liberal political party in Greece founded by Stefanos Manos in April 1999. The president suspended operations of the party in October 2001, citing economic problems and limited appeal amongst the voting public . The party participated independently in popular elections only...
espousing a laissez-faireLaissez-faireIn economics, laissez-faire describes an environment in which transactions between private parties are free from state intervention, including restrictive regulations, taxes, tariffs and enforced monopolies....
political platform. The party was dissolved in October 2001. http://www.bulls.gr/downloadables/Hist-Suspension_2001-10-21.pdf The party's founder cooperated with PASOKPanhellenic Socialist MovementThe 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...
in 2004, after George Papandreou's invitation to be honorarily elected as member of the Greek parliament under PASOK's flag, and founded yet another party, "Drassi", in 2009, this time refusing to use the term "liberal" and claiming it was based upon "common sense".
Liberal Alliance
- February 2007: Establishment of the Liberal AllianceLiberal Alliance (Greece)The Liberal Alliance is a liberal political party in Greece founded February of 2007. Its stated purpose is to cover the political ground between what it considers to constitute a conservative New Democracy and the socialist PASOK .The highest organ in Liberal Alliance is its congress, which...
Liberal leaders
- Liberal Party: Eleftherios VenizelosEleftherios VenizelosEleftherios Venizelos was an eminent Greek revolutionary, a prominent and illustrious statesman as well as a charismatic leader in the early 20th century. Elected several times as Prime Minister of Greece and served from 1910 to 1920 and from 1928 to 1932...
- Themistoklis SophoulisThemistoklis SophoulisThemistoklis Sofoulis or Sophoulis was a prominent centrist Greek politician from Samos Island, belonging to the centre-left wing of the Liberal Party, which he led for many years.-Early life:...
- Sophoklis VenizelosSophoklis VenizelosSofoklis Venizelos was a prominent Greek politician who three times served as Prime Minister of Greece .He was born in Chania. The second-born son of Eleftherios Venizelos, Sofoklis served with distinction in the Greek Army during the First World War and the initial phases of the Asia Minor... - National Progressive Union of the Centre: Nikolaos PlastirasNikolaos PlastirasNikolaos Plastiras was a Greek general and politician, who served thrice as Prime Minister of Greece. A distinguished soldier and known for his personal bravery, he was known as "O Mavros Kavalaris" during the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922...
- Center Union: Georgios PapandreouGeorge Papandreou (senior)Georgios Papandreou was a Greek politician, the founder of the Papandreou political dynasty. He served three terms as Prime Minister of Greece...
- George Mavros - Union of the Democratic Center: George Mavros - Ioannis Zigdis
- Party of New Liberals: Constantine MitsotakisConstantine MitsotakisConstantine 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...
See also
- History of GreeceHistory of GreeceThe history of Greece encompasses the history of the territory of the modern state of Greece, as well as that of the Greek people and the areas they ruled historically. The scope of Greek habitation and rule has varied much through the ages, and, as a result, the history of Greece is similarly...
- Politics of GreecePolitics of GreeceThe Politics of Greece takes place in a large parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Greece is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Hellenic Parliament...
- List of political parties in Greece