Panagiotis Pikrammenos

Panagiotis Pikrammenos Παναγιώτης Πικραμμένος
Prime Minister of Greece
In office 16 May 2012 – 20 June 2012
President	Karolos Papoulias
Preceded by	Lucas Papademos
Succeeded by	Antonis Samaras
President of the Council of State
In office 2 July 2009 – 17 May 2012
Preceded by	George Panagiotopoulos
Succeeded by	Costas Menoudakos
Personal details
Born	26 July 1945 Athens, Greece
Political party	Independent
Spouse(s)	Athina Noutsou
Children	1 daughter
Alma mater	University of Athens Panthéon-Assas University
Religion	Greek Orthodoxy

Panagiotis Pikrammenos (Greek: Παναγιώτης Πικραμμένος, pronounced [panaˈʝotis pikraˈmenos]; born 26 July 1945)^[1] is a Greek judge who served as the interim Prime Minister of Greece in May–June 2012 after the legislative election in May 2012 resulted in an absence of majority.^[2]

Early life

Pikrammenos was born in Athens and is the son of Othon (Otto) Pikrammenos, a native of Patras and owner of the company "Hellenic and Foreign Press Union". Pikrammenos' paternal grandfather was Takis Pikrammenos, founder of the company, while his mother's side descends from the old Chaireti family.

Pikrammenos graduated from the German School of Athens in 1963 and from the Law School at Athens' Kapodistrian University in 1968. He did postgraduate studies at Panthéon-Assas University,^[3] and worked as a lawyer in Athens and London until becoming a rapporteur of the Council of State in 1976. He rose steadily through the ranks on the Council until he was appointed as its President in 2009. He also served as general manager of the National School of Judges from 2005 to 2009. As well as his service in the judiciary, Pikrammenos has worked on a number of legislative committees for the Ministry of Justice and from 1991 to 1993 he was a special advisor on judicial affairs to Prime Minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis.^[4] Shortly after he was appointed as President of the Council of State in 2009, an explosive device was placed on Pikrammenos' car by what police believed to be an anarchist group.^[5]

As a judge he has issued important decisions. He ruled it was unconstitutional to imprison for debt in 2003. He has also ruled in cases involving the Acropolis Museum and the AEK (sports club).

Acting Prime Minister of Greece

Pikrammenos (r.) being sworn in by Greek President Karolos Papoulias on 16 May 2012

Pikrammenos served as president of Greece's Council of State, and was due to retire in 2012.^[6] He was appointed caretaker prime minister by President Karolos Papoulias on 16 May 2012,^[7] following the failure to form a government after the 6 May general elections. He led a government of technocrats in the run-up of the 17 June elections.^[8]

References

1. "Council of State". Ste.gr. 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
2. "Judge Panagiotis Pikramenos named as Greek caretaker PM as elections set for 17 June", The Independent, 16 May 2012
3. Avlonitis, Alexandros (2 July 2009). "Boutia kai pali stin epetirida" [Dive back into the yearbook]. Ethnos (in Greek).
4. "in.gr - Ποιος είναι ο Παναγιώτης Πικραμμένος, ο νέος υπηρεσιακός πρωθυπουργός - Ειδήσεις - Ελλάδα". News.in.gr. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
5. "Anarchist Group Suspected in Arson Attack on Top Greek Judge's Car". Fox News. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
6. "Council of State president to be new caretaker PM", Ekathimerini, 16 May 2012
7. Wearden, Graeme (2011-03-22). "Eurozone crisis live: Greek elections called for 17 June". Guardian. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
8. "Greece to hold new election on 17 June". BBC News. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.

External links

• Ποιος είναι ο Παναγιώτης Πικραμμένος, ο νέος υπηρεσιακός πρωθυπουργός - Biographical detail (Greek)
• Official site of the Prime Minister (Greek)