Georgios Papandreou
Γεώργιος Παπανδρέου
A liberal statesman at the threshold of liberation and civil war
At Caserta, he agreed that military command after liberation would pass to the British commander, General Scobie.
A Greek liberal politician, Papandreou opposed the monarchy while also confronting the communist movement, combining social reform with firm anti-communism. During the Second World War he led the government-in-exile and, through the Lebanon Conference and the Caserta Agreement, helped establish a framework for resistance participation in government and the integration of armed forces. Returning in 1944 as prime minister of the Government of National Unity, he sought to restore state authority amid British intervention and conflict between EAM and non-EAM forces, a project that gave way to the Dekemvriana and civil war. He later founded the Centre Union and defended parliamentary democracy until his death under house arrest after the 1967 military coup.
Career timeline
- 1916Joined Venizelos's insurgent government and organised anti-monarchist support.
- 1923Minister of the Interior
- 1930–1932Minister of Education, expanding schools for refugee children.
- 1935Founded the Democratic Socialist Party of Greece
- 1944–1945Prime minister of the government-in-exile and Government of National Unity; represented Greece at Lebanon and Caserta.
- 1950–1952Deputy prime minister
- 1961–1965Leader of the Centre Union, winning the 1963 and 1964 elections.
- 1967–1968Held under house arrest by the military regime