Ioannis Charalambopoulos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ioannis Charalambopoulos
Ιωάννης Χαραλαμπόπουλος |
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Yannis Charalambopoulos in 1985
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 February 1919 Psari, Greece |
| Died | 16 October 2014 (aged 95) |
| Political party | Panhellenic Socialist Movement |
| Profession | Army officer, politician |
Ioannis Charalambopoulos (Greek: Ιωάννης Χαραλαμπόπουλος) was a Greek army officer and a well-known politician. He was born on February 10, 1919, and passed away on October 16, 2014, at the age of 95.
He served Greece in many important roles. These included being the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of National Defence. He was also a Deputy Prime Minister.
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Who Was Ioannis Charalambopoulos?
Ioannis Charalambopoulos was a significant figure in modern Greek history. He started his career in the army and later became a leading politician. He was known for his strong beliefs and his dedication to his country.
He played a key role in the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, a major political party in Greece. His long career showed his commitment to public service.
Early Life and Military Service
Ioannis Charalambopoulos was born in 1919 in a small village called Psari, in Greece. His family had a background in the military.
He studied at the Hellenic Army Academy, which is a school for future army officers. After World War II, he continued his studies with a scholarship at Woolwich Polytechnic in England.
During World War II, he served as a commander in the army. He fought in the Greco-Italian War and in other parts of the Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre. He was a Colonel in the Engineering Corps, which means he was a high-ranking officer in charge of building and maintaining military structures.
In 1963, he left the army to begin a new career in politics.
A Career in Politics
After leaving the army, Ioannis Charalambopoulos joined the Center Union political party. He was elected to the Greek Parliament, representing the area of Messenia, in both the 1963 and 1964 elections. Being a Member of Parliament (MP) meant he helped make laws for the country.
From 1967 to 1974, Greece was ruled by a military government, known as the Greek military junta. Charalambopoulos strongly opposed this government. He even started a group called the Democratic National Resistance Movement to fight against it. Because of his opposition, he was sent to internal exile for three years, meaning he was forced to live away from his home.
Fighting for Democracy
When the military government fell in 1974, a period called the metapolitefsi began. This was when Greece returned to democratic rule. Ioannis Charalambopoulos was one of the people who helped create the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). This new political party became very important in Greece.
He was elected to Parliament many times for PASOK. He served as an MP for the Athens B area in every election from 1974 until 2000. This shows how much people trusted him.
Important Government Roles
In 1981, Greece joined the European Economic Community (EEC), which is now called the European Union. Ioannis Charalambopoulos became a temporary member of the European Parliament. This meant he represented Greece in Europe until the country could hold its own elections for European representatives.
On October 21, 1981, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. This is a very important job where he represented Greece to other countries around the world. He held this position until July 26, 1985.
After that, he became Deputy Prime Minister in 1985. This meant he was one of the most senior ministers in the government, working closely with the Prime Minister, Andreas Papandreou. From 1986 to 1989, he also served as the Minister of National Defence. In this role, he was in charge of Greece's armed forces.
Ioannis Charalambopoulos passed away on October 16, 2014, at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy of service to Greece.
