Panagiotis Lafazanis

Panagiotis Lafazanis MP
Παναγιώτης Λαφαζάνης
Leader of Popular Unity
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 August 2015
Preceded by	office established
Minister of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy
In office 27 January 2015 – 17 July 2015
Prime Minister	Alexis Tsipras
Preceded by	Giannis Maniatis
Succeeded by	Panos Skourletis
Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Piraeus B
In office 9 April 2000 – 20 September 2015
Personal details
Born	19 November 1951 Elefsina, Greece
Political party	Popular Unity (2015–present) Syriza (2004–2015)

Panagiotis Lafazanis (Greek: Παναγιώτης Λαφαζάνης, Greek pronunciation: [panaˌʝotis lafaˈzanis]; born 19 November 1951) is a Greek politician. On August 21, 2015, he was named the leader of a new Greek left-wing political party, Popular Unity.^[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 involved in the Communist Party of Greece until the 1992 formation of Synaspismos, where he served as a member of the Political Secretariat.^[2]

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 is the leader of Syriza's Left Platform and has been involved in a number of disputes with the more moderate 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 July 11, 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.

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. "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.

External links

• Terms of office of Panagiotis Lafazanis at the Hellenic Parliament (English)