Famous Greek Prime Ministers

Eleuthérios Venizélos was a Greek statesman who played a prominent role in the Greek national liberation movement. He served as the Prime Minister of Greece on eight occasions between 1910 and 1933. As a politician, he contributed immensely to the expansion of Greece. Eleuthérios Venizelos is often called the Maker of Modern Greece due to his influence on the country.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis is a Greek politician who has been serving as the president of the New Democracy political party since 2016. The current Prime Minister of Greece, Mitsotakis also served as the Minister of Administrative Reform between 2013 and 2015. He is also one of the most controversial leaders, having been associated with the Siemens Greek bribery scandal in 2007.

Greek military general Ioannis Metaxas also served as the prime minister of Greece during what is known as a dictatorial regime. He had been part of the Balkan Wars. Though appointed the country’s minister of army affairs initially, he began his dictatorship, or the Fourth of August Regime, on August 4, 1936.

George Papandreou is a Greek politician who is currently serving as the President of the Socialist International (SI). From 2009 to 2011, he served as the Prime Minister of Greece. He has also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs on two occasions.

Former Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras was born into an affluent family and had even won the Greek Teen Tennis Championship at 17. He boasts of a Harvard MBA and, as a New Democracy party member, has held several ministerial positions. He had founded the short-lived political party Political Spring.

Konstantinos Karamanlis had been a 2-time president and 4-time prime minister of Greece. A qualified lawyer, he stepped into politics with the Populist Party and held important cabinet posts, such as that of the minister of labor. His efforts led to Greece joining the European Economic Community.

Konstantinos Mitsotakis was a Greek politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs on two occasions; from 1980 to 1981 and then in 1992. From 1990 to 1993, he also served as the Prime Minister of Greece. Konstantinos Mitsotakis is also credited with nurturing his son Kyriakos Mitsotakis' political career, who is the current Prime Minister of Greece.

Kostas Karamanlis is a Greek politician who served as the leader of the New Democracy party, which was established by his uncle Konstantinos Karamanlis, between 1997 and 2009. From 2004 to 2006, he was the Minister for Culture and Sports. Kostas Karamanlis also served as Greece's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2009. 

Alexandros Papagos was a Greek army officer who played a key role during World War II where he led the Hellenic Army. He was also influential in the final outcome of the subsequent Greek Civil War. Also a successful politician, Alexandros Papagos served as the Prime Minister of Greece from 1952 to 1955.

Costas Simitis is a Greek politician who served as the leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement as well as the Prime Minister of Greece from 1996 to 2004. An influential and popular politician, Simitis has also held several other offices, including the Ministry of Development and Investment, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, and Ministry of Development.

Constantine Kanaris was a Greek admiral and politician. Regarded as a national hero, Kanaris played a significant role in the Greek War of Independence and helped Greece achieve its independence from the Ottoman Empire. An influential politician, Constantine Kanaris also served five terms in the office of the Prime Minister between 1844 and 1877.

Geórgios Kondílis was a Greek politician and general who played a major role in supressing the royalist revolt of 1923. An influential politician, Geórgios Kondílis also served as the Prime Minister of Greece in 1926. He was honored with the prestigious Serbian Order of the White Eagle for his wonderful political career.

Charilaos Trikoupis was a Greek politician who served the office of the Prime Minister on seven occasions between 1875 and 1895. He is credited with proposing and funding modern and ambitious projects, such as the establishment of the Corinth Canal. Today, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest Prime Ministers to have ever served Greece.