Miltiadis Evert

Miltiadis Evert was a prominent Greek politician and civil engineer who served as the Mayor of Athens and was a long-time leading figure within the New Democracy party. His political career spanned several decades, during which he held key ministerial positions and twice led his party as its president, contesting the prime ministership in the 1996 and 2000 general elections. Evert is remembered for his staunch conservative ideology, his tenure as mayor which included significant urban projects, and his role as a principal opposition figure against the Panhellenic Socialist Movement governments of Andreas Papandreou and Costas Simitis.

Early life and education

Miltiadis Evert was born on 12 May 1939 in Athens, during the interwar period. He was the son of Alexandros Evert, a distinguished police officer who later served as Chief of the Hellenic Gendarmerie. He pursued higher education at the prestigious National Technical University of Athens, where he graduated with a degree in civil engineering. His academic background in engineering profoundly influenced his later approach to public administration and urban development projects during his political career.

Political career

Evert entered politics following the restoration of democracy in 1974, quickly rising through the ranks of the newly founded New Democracy under its founder, Konstantinos Karamanlis. He was first elected as a member of parliament for the Athens B constituency in the 1974 election. He held several significant ministerial portfolios, including Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Interior in the governments of Konstantinos Mitsotakis. Notably, he served as Minister for the Presidency of the Government under Prime Minister Georgios Rallis from 1980 to 1981, a period that included Greece's accession to the European Economic Community.

Mayor of Athens

Evert served as the Mayor of Athens from 1987 to 1989, elected with the support of New Democracy. His tenure was marked by a focus on infrastructure and urban renewal, including major projects to modernize the city's traffic management and public spaces. He oversaw significant preparations for Athens' ultimately unsuccessful bid to host the 1996 Summer Olympics, which were awarded to Atlanta. His administration also grappled with the challenges of rapid urban growth and environmental issues in the Attica basin.

Later political activities

Following his mayoral term, Evert returned to national politics and was elected president of New Democracy in 1993, following the party's defeat in the 1993 election. As party leader and leader of the opposition, he fiercely contested the governments of Andreas Papandreou and later Costas Simitis. He led New Democracy into the 1996 and 2000 general elections but was unable to secure a parliamentary majority, losing both times to the Panhellenic Socialist Movement. He resigned the party leadership after the 2000 defeat and was succeeded by Kostas Karamanlis. Evert remained an active member of parliament until 2004, after which he withdrew from frontline politics.

Personal life and death

Miltiadis Evert was married to author and diplomat Niki Kalliga, with whom he had two children. He was known for his deep religious faith and his alignment with the conservative ideological wing of his party. Evert died of cancer on 7 February 2011 at the Evangelismos Hospital in Athens. His funeral service was held at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens and was attended by numerous political figures, including then-Prime Minister George Papandreou and opposition leader Antonis Samaras, reflecting his significant stature in modern Greek political history.

Category:1939 births Category:2011 deaths Category:New Democracy (Greece) politicians Category:Mayors of Athens Category:Members of the Hellenic Parliament Category:Greek civil engineers