Alexis Tsipras

Alexis Tsipras
Name	Alexis Tsipras
Caption	Tsipras in 2019
Office	Prime Minister of Greece
Term start	21 September 2015
Term end	8 July 2019
President	Prokopis Pavlopoulos
Predecessor	Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou (caretaker)
Successor	Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Term start2	26 January 2015
Term end2	27 August 2015
President2	Karolos Papoulias
Predecessor2	Antonis Samaras
Successor2	Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou (caretaker)
Office3	Leader of the Opposition
Term start3	8 July 2019
Term end3	24 June 2023
Primeminister3	Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Predecessor3	Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Successor3	Position vacant
Office4	President of SYRIZA
Term start4	4 October 2009
Predecessor4	Alekos Alavanos
Birth date	28 July 1974
Birth place	Athens, Greece
Party	SYRIZA (2004–present)
Otherparty	Synaspismos (1999–2013)
Spouse	Peristera Baziana
Alma mater	National Technical University of Athens

Alexis Tsipras is a Greek politician who served as the Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019, leading the first government dominated by the left-wing SYRIZA party. His tenure was defined by the renegotiation of Greece's international bailout agreements during the European sovereign debt crisis, a period marked by a national referendum and intense negotiations with the Eurogroup, the European Commission, and the International Monetary Fund. A prominent figure in Greek politics, he has been the president of SYRIZA since 2009 and served as the Leader of the Opposition from 2019 to 2023.

Early life and education

Born in Athens in 1974, he grew up in the Ambelokipoi neighborhood. He became politically active in his youth, joining the Communist Youth of Greece during his secondary education at the Varvakeio Model School. He pursued higher education at the National Technical University of Athens, graduating with a degree in civil engineering. His time at the university was marked by significant involvement in student politics, where he served as a representative and was influenced by the broader leftist movements in Greece.

Political career

His formal political career began with his involvement in Synaspismos, a left-wing party that was a precursor to SYRIZA. He was elected to the Athens city council in 2002, serving until 2006. He rose to national prominence in 2008 following the shooting of a teenager by police and the subsequent widespread protests. In 2009, he was elected president of SYRIZA, transforming the coalition into a major political force. He led the party to a strong second-place finish in the 2012 legislative elections, establishing himself as the primary opponent to the New Democracy-led government of Antonis Samaras.

Prime Minister of Greece

Following SYRIZA's victory in the January 2015 election, he was sworn in as Prime Minister of Greece, forming a coalition with the right-wing ANEL party. His first government immediately clashed with the country's creditors, leading to a sovereign debt crisis climax, capital controls, and the historic July 2015 referendum. After the referendum's "no" vote, he returned to negotiations and ultimately signed the Third Economic Adjustment Programme for Greece, a decision that caused a party split and led to his resignation. After calling a snap election, he was re-elected and formed his second government, which oversaw the implementation of the bailout's austerity measures until the end of its term in 2019.

Post-premiership and later political activity

After his party's defeat in the 2019 election to New Democracy under Kyriakos Mitsotakis, he assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition. He led SYRIZA through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 rail disaster. Following a second electoral defeat in the June 2023 elections, he announced he would not lead the party into the next contest, effectively stepping down from the leadership after nearly 14 years.

Political positions and ideology

Identified with the radical left and democratic socialist traditions, his early platform was defined by strong opposition to the memoranda of understanding and the austerity policies imposed by the Troika. He advocated for debt restructuring, an end to privatization programs, and the restoration of collective bargaining. His tenure as prime minister, however, saw a notable pragmatic shift as he implemented the conditions of the Third Economic Adjustment Programme for Greece. He has been a critic of NATO interventions and maintains a stance critical of North Macedonia's name prior to the Prespa agreement.

Personal life

He is married to Peristera Baziana, an architect and former fellow student at the National Technical University of Athens; the couple has two sons. He is known for his informal style, often appearing without a tie, and is an avid supporter of the Panathinaikos basketball club. Despite his high-profile political career, he maintains a residence in the Kypseli neighborhood of Athens.

Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Prime Ministers of Greece Category:SYRIZA politicians