Panagiotis Lafazanis

Panagiotis Lafazanis
Παναγιώτης Λαφαζάνης
Leader of Popular Unity
In office
21 August 2015 – 2 June 2019
Preceded byoffice established
Minister of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy
In office
27 January 2015 – 17 July 2015
Prime MinisterAlexis Tsipras
Preceded byGiannis Maniatis
Succeeded byPanos Skourletis
Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Piraeus B
In office
9 April 2000 – 20 September 2015
Personal details
Born (1951-11-19) 19 November 1951 (age 73)
Elefsina, Greece
Political partyDemocratic Movement of National Liberation (2023–present)
Other political
affiliations		Popular Unity (2015–2020)
Syriza (2004–2015)

Panagiotis Lafazanis (Greek: Παναγιώτης Λαφαζάνης, pronounced [panaˈʝotiz lafaˈzanis]; born 19 November 1951) is a Greek politician. He served as the leader of a new Greek left-wing political party, Popular Unity, from 21 August 2015 until his resignation on 2 June 2019.[1]

Previously he was a member of Syriza, and from 27 January to 17 July 2015 he served in the cabinet of Alexis Tsipras as the Minister of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy.

Early life and education

Born in Elefsina, Lafazanis attended the faculty of mathematics at the University of Athens but did not graduate.[2]

Political career

Lafazanis was first elected as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Piraeus B at the 2000 Greek legislative election, representing Synaspismos. He was re-elected at the 2004 legislative election, the 2009 election (this time representing Syriza), the May 2012 election, the June 2012 election and the January 2015 election.

In the parliament of 2012–2014, he was Syriza's Parliamentary Spokesman and a member of the Special Permanent Committee on Institutions and Transparency. After the 2015 legislative election, he was appointed Minister of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy in the cabinet of Alexis Tsipras on 27 January.

Lafazanis was the leader of Syriza's Left Platform and has been involved in a number of disputes with the more centrist party leader Alexis Tsipras.[3] He has called "for SYRIZA to [be] swept by a new wave of radicalization in all areas, ideological, political, programmatic", opposing "the Troika, memoranda, neoliberalism and finally capitalism itself",[4] and has spoken against continued Greek membership of the euro, describing the European Union as "totalitarian".[5] On 11 July 2015, he rebelled against the SYRIZA/ANEL coalition by abstaining on a vote for austerity measures for a new bailout within the Eurozone.

In a cabinet reshuffle on 17 July 2015, Lafazanis was removed from his role as the Minister of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy. He was replaced by Panos Skourletis, the Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity.

He has expressed his support for Russia in Russian invasion of Ukraine. He posted an election poster with the slogan “Russia is right, the United States and NATO have created hell in Ukraine.” The poster was decorated with the military symbol "Z".[6] In January 2023, he founded a new Russophile party with the name Democratic Movement of National Liberation.

Personal life

Lafazanis is married to Fryni Dialeti and has three daughters. He also speaks English fluently.[2]

References

  1. ^ Yardley, Jim (21 August 2015). "In a Twist, Europe May Find Itself Relying on Success of Alexis Tsipras of Greece". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Panagiotis Lafazanis". Hellenic Parliament. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  3. ^ "SYRIZA: Tsipras – Left Platform rift continues to grow". To Vima. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  4. ^ ""Euro or Drachma" dilemma splits SYRIZA once again". Proto Thema. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Greek Roulette: What Would Syriza's Victory Mean for Europe?". Spiegel Online. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  6. ^ Group), Radiotileoptiki S. A. (OPEN Digital (24 July 2022). "Θέμα στα ρωσικά ΜΜΕ η αφίσα του Λαφαζάνη με το «Ζ» της εισβολής στην Ουκρανία: «Η Ρωσία έχει δίκιο»". ΕΘΝΟΣ (in Greek). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Productive Reconstruction,
Environment and Energy
27 January 2015 – 18 July 2015 		Succeeded by