Giorgos Stathakis

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Giorgos Stathakis
Γιώργος Σταθάκης
Minister of Environment and Energy
In office
5 November 2016 – 9 July 2019
Prime MinisterAlexis Tsipras
Preceded byPanos Skourletis
Succeeded byKostis Hatzidakis
Minister of Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism
In office
23 September 2015 – 5 November 2016
Prime MinisterAlexis Tsipras
Preceded byNikos Christodoulakis
Succeeded byDimitri B. Papadimitriou
In office
27 January 2015 – 28 August 2015
Prime MinisterAlexis Tsipras
Preceded byKonstantinos Skrekas
Succeeded byNikos Christodoulakis
Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Chania
Assumed office
6 May 2012
Personal details
Born (1953-11-08) 8 November 1953 (age 70)
Chania, Greece
Political partySyriza
SpouseThemis Geckou
ChildrenTwo children
Alma materUniversity of Athens
Newcastle University

Giorgos Stathakis (Greek: Γιώργος Σταθάκης; born 8 November 1953) is a Greek politician and economist. From 27 January to 28 August 2015, he served as the Minister of Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism in the cabinet of Alexis Tsipras.[1] He has also been a Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Chania since May 2012.[2]

Stathakis is a professor of political economy at the University of Crete, but has been on leave since being elected as an MP.[1][3] He was formerly a Vice-Rector of the university.[4]

Early life and education[edit]

Stathakis graduated from the University of Athens in 1976 with degree in economics. He continued his studies, graduating in 1978 with a Master's degree in economics, and in 1983 with a Doctorate in economics, both from Newcastle University. His doctoral thesis was titled: "Industrial Development and the Regional Problem: The Case of Greece".[3]

Academic career[edit]

Stathakis worked at the Mediterranean Studies Foundation from 1985 to 1986 and at the Computer Technology Institute in Patras from 1986 to 1987. From 1987 to 1988 he worked as a visiting researcher at the Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, Queens College, City University of New York, and as a visiting scholar from 1992 to 1993 at the Center for European Studies, Harvard University.[5]

In 1988 he joined the staff at the University of Crete as a lecturer. He became an associate professor in 1992 and in 1997 became a full professor of political economy.[6] His teaching focuses on Marxist analysis and economic methodology.[7] Stathakis has also been one of three Vice-Rectors of the University of Crete, but stepped down following the May 2012 legislative election.[4][8]

Political career[edit]

Stathakis was first elected as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Chania in the May 2012 Greek legislative election. He was re-elected in the June 2012 legislative election and in the January 2015 legislative election.[2]

Stathakis is reportedly seen as "more market-friendly" than most of his colleagues in Syriza.[9] Alexis Tsipras has reportedly said that Stathakis is "so valuable that if he didn't exist he would have to be invented".[7]

Before Syriza came to power following the 2015 legislative election, Stathakis served as the shadow development minister in the Shadow Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras.[9] In an interview with the Financial Times before the 2015 legislative election, Stathakis set out Syriza's plan to crack down on Greek oligarchs if it won the election.[9]

Following the 2015 legislative election, Stathakis was appointed as the Minister of Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism in the cabinet of Alexis Tsipras.[1]

Stathakis was named as a potential replacement for Yanis Varoufakis after he resigned as Minister for Finance on 6 July 2015, following the resounding 'No' vote in the Greek bailout referendum.[10] He was later appointed as the economy minister. During his tenure it was revealed that he failed to report thirty-eight properties and €1.8m in his assets declaration of 2011. A parliamentary committee is investigating the revelations.[11]

Personal life[edit]

Stathakis is married to Themis Gekou and has two children.[4]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Smith, Helena; Ian Traynor (27 January 2015). "Greek PM Alexis Tsipras unveils cabinet of mavericks and visionaries". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Georgios Stathakis Terms of Office". Hellenic Parliament. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b Proctor, Kate (6 July 2015). "Giorgos Stathakis the radical Greek economics minister is a Newcastle University graduate". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  4. ^ a b c "Georgios Stathakis". Naftemporiki Conferences. Retrieved 10 August 2015.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "George Stathakis". The Economist Intelligence Unit. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Giorgos Stathakis CV" (PDF). University of Crete. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  7. ^ a b Tsiliopoulos, Euthimis (29 January 2014). "Giorgos Stathakis: SYRIZA's soft power". The TOC. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  8. ^ Παραιτήθηκε από αντιπρύτανης ο Γιώργος Σταθάκης. Νέα Κρήτη (in Greek). 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  9. ^ a b c Hope, Kerin (6 January 2015). "Syriza to crack down on Greece's oligarchs if it wins election". Financial Times. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  10. ^ Brinded, Lianna (6 July 2015). "One of these four people will replace Yanis Varoufakis". Business Insider UK. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  11. ^ "A year after Alexis Tsipras's sweeping victory, economic woes and scandals threaten to bring him down". The Economist. 29 Jan 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.


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