Nikos Androulakis

Nikos Androulakis
Name	Nikos Androulakis
Caption	Androulakis in 2022
Office	President of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement
Term start	12 December 2021
Predecessor	Fofi Gennimata
Birth date	7 February 1979
Birth place	Chania, Crete, Greece
Party	Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK)
Alma mater	National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University of Sussex
Spouse	Anna Koutsoumpari

Nikos Androulakis is a Greek politician and civil engineer who has served as the president of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) since December 2021. He was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Movement for Change in 2019, a position he held until 2023. Androulakis is a central figure in the centre-left political landscape of Greece, leading the historical party through a period of realignment following the Greek government-debt crisis.

Early life and education

Nikos Androulakis was born on 7 February 1979 in Chania on the island of Crete. He is the son of Nikos Androulakis, a prominent civil engineer and former minister, and Anna Psarouda-Benaki, a professor of pedagogy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He completed his secondary education at the Athens College. Androulakis then pursued higher education in civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, graduating in 2002. He furthered his studies in European studies at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, earning a master's degree. His academic background provided a foundation for his later work on European Union cohesion policy and regional development.

Political career

Androulakis began his political involvement with the Panhellenic Socialist Movement youth wing. He served as a political advisor to Giorgos Papandreou during Papandreou's tenure as Prime Minister of Greece and later as an advisor on European affairs and international relations. In 2014, he was elected to the Central Committee of PASOK. Androulakis gained broader national recognition during the 2019 European Parliament election in Greece, where he was elected as an MEP for the Movement for Change coalition. In the European Parliament, he served as a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, focusing on energy security, the Green Deal, and Eastern Mediterranean relations.

Leadership of PASOK

Following the death of PASOK president Fofi Gennimata in October 2021, Androulakis announced his candidacy for the party leadership. He won the subsequent leadership election on 12 December 2021, defeating former minister Andreas Loverdos. His election marked a generational shift for the party, which had seen its influence wane after the Greek government-debt crisis. As president, Androulakis has sought to revitalize PASOK as a modern, progressive force, rebranding it as the "PASOK-Movement for Change." He has positioned the party as a pivotal centre-left actor, often acting as a potential coalition partner between the governing New Democracy and the opposition SYRIZA.

Electoral history

Androulakis's first major electoral contest was the 2019 European Parliament election in Greece, where he was elected as an MEP. He led the PASOK-Movement for Change ticket in the May 2023 Greek legislative election, with the party securing 11.46% of the vote and 41 seats in the Hellenic Parliament. In the subsequent June 2023 repeat election, the party increased its share to 11.84%, winning 32 seats and establishing itself as the third-largest party. Androulakis was elected as a member of parliament for the Athens B electoral district. In the 2024 European election, under his leadership, PASOK achieved a significant result, finishing a close second to New Democracy.

Political positions

Androulakis advocates for a strong welfare state, social justice, and environmental protection aligned with the European Green Deal. He supports Greece's membership in the European Union and NATO, while emphasizing a balanced foreign policy in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly regarding Cyprus and relations with Turkey. Economically, he promotes policies to address the cost of living crisis, support the middle class, and ensure equitable growth. He has been a vocal critic of political corruption and has championed institutional transparency, notably filing a complaint with the Supreme Court regarding an attempted wiretapping of his phone by the National Intelligence Service.

Personal life

Nikos Androulakis is married to journalist Anna Koutsoumpari, and the couple has two children. He is fluent in English and French. Outside of politics, he has co-authored technical studies on renewable energy and sustainable development. Androulakis maintains a strong connection to his native Crete and is an avid supporter of the football club OFI Crete.

Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Presidents of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement Category:Members of the Hellenic Parliament Category:Members of the European Parliament for Greece 2019–2024 Category:Politicians from Chania Category:Athens College alumni Category:National Technical University of Athens alumni Category:University of Sussex alumni