Nikolaos Chountis

Nikolaos Chountis MEP
Νικόλαος Χουντής
Member of the European Parliament for Greece
In office 2014–2019
Preceded by	Manolis Glezos
In office 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014
In office 15 April 2004 – 19 July 2004
Preceded by	Alekos Alavanos
Alternate Minister of European Affairs
In office 27 January 2015 – 13 July 2015
Succeeded by	Sia Anagnostopoulou
Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Athens B
In office 25 January 2015 – 13 July 2015
Succeeded by	Georgios Miltiadi Kyritsis
Personal details
Born	17 September 1953 (1953-09-17) (age 71) Langadia, Arcadia, Greece
Political party	Popular Unity
Other political affiliations	Synaspismos, Syriza (until 2015)
Spouse	Dr Evmorfia Sagkana
Alma mater	National Technical University of Athens Panteion University
Occupation	Electrical engineer[1] and politician

Nikolaos Chountis (Greek: Νικόλαος Χουντής; born 17 September 1953 in Langadia, Arcadia) is a Greek politician and former Member of the European Parliament, currently serving as General Secretary of the political party Popular Unity.

Early life and education

Chountis was born in Langadia, Arcadia. He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and with a degree in political science from the Panteion University.^[1]

Political career

On 15 April 2004, Chountis succeeded Alekos Alavanos in his role as a Member of the European Parliament for Greece. Chountis served until 19 July 2004, following the 2004 European Parliament election. During this period he represented Synaspismos.

Following the 2009 European Parliament election, Chountis was elected as a Syriza Member of European Parliament. He served until 2014 as Syriza's only MEP.

Following the January 2015 Greek legislative election, he was elected a Member of the Hellenic Parliament for the Athens B constituency, representing Syriza. On 27 January 2015, he was appointed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras as the Alternate Minister of European Affairs in his cabinet.

Hountis with successor Sia Anagnostopoulou.

A member of the Syriza's Left Platform, Hountis was internally opposed to the government's bridge agreement in February.^[2] On 13 July 2015, following Tsipras' agreement with the European creditors and well ahead of the parliamentary vote, Hountis resigned from his ministerial office to be replaced by Sia Anagnostopoulou. He also resigned from Parliament and was succeeded by Giorgos Kyritsis.^[3][4]

Succeeding the retired Manolis Glezos on 20 July 2015, he once again became a Member of the European Parliament.

On 26 August 2015, he defected to Popular Unity, alongside 52 other members of Syriza's central committee.^[5] He becomes Popular Unity's only MEP.

Personal life

Chountis is married to Dr Evmorfia Sagkana.^[1]

References

1. "CV of Nikolaos Chountis". Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
2. Kouvelakis, Stathis (6 March 2015). "Syriza on a Tightrope". Jacobin. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
3. "SYRIZA MP and minister Nikos Hountis resigns". Kathimerini. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
4. "Terms of Office of Nikolaos Chountis". Hellenic Parliament. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
5. "Μαζικές παραιτήσεις: Εκτός ΣΥΡΙΖΑ ο Χουντής και άλλοι 52". ProtoThema. August 26, 2015.

External links

• Personal profile of Nikolaos Chountis in the European Parliament's database of members
• Terms of office of Nikolaos Chountis at the Hellenic Parliament (in English)