List of prime ministers of Greece

The list of prime ministers of Greece chronicles the heads of government from the provisional executives formed during the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829), with Alexandros Mavrokordatos serving as the first recognized leader in 1822 as president of the executive body, through the subsequent Kingdom of Greece and the modern Hellenic Republic.^[1][2] The formal office of Prime Minister emerged after the 1843 revolution, which compelled King Otto to grant a constitution in 1844, establishing a parliamentary system where the prime minister, as head of the cabinet, directs government policy subject to parliamentary confidence.^[3] This roster reflects Greece's volatile political trajectory, encompassing more than 70 distinct tenures marked by frequent cabinet changes due to the country's multiparty system and historical instability, including the liberal reforms under Charilaos Trikoupis in the late 19th century, the divisive National Schism during World War I, the interruption by the Regime of the Colonels military junta from 1967 to 1974—during which prime ministers lacked substantive power—and the metapolitefsi democratic transition led by Konstantinos Karamanlis in 1974.^[4] In the Third Hellenic Republic since 1974, the role has been held by leaders navigating NATO membership, European integration, and the 2009–2018 sovereign debt crisis, which prompted technocratic interim governments; Kyriakos Mitsotakis of New Democracy has served as incumbent since July 2019, securing re-election in 2023.^[5]

Origins and Evolution of the Office

Establishment During Independence

The Greek War of Independence, erupting in March 1821, prompted the formation of provisional governments in regions freed from Ottoman control, initially comprising local councils such as the Peloponnesian Senate and Areopagus in the Morea.^[6] These fragmented structures coalesced with the convocation of the First National Assembly at Epidaurus from 20 December 1821 (Old Style) to 1 January 1822, which formally declared Greek independence on 1 January 1822 and promulgated the Provisional Constitution of Greece.^[7] This foundational document established a system of separation of powers, featuring a unicameral Legislative Corps and an Executive Council of five members selected by the legislature from its body; the council elected its own president, who directed governmental operations and represented the executive authority. The president's role as head of the executive effectively served as the nascent equivalent of a prime minister, managing administrative and military affairs amid ongoing warfare and internal divisions, though lacking formal designation as such until later constitutional developments.^[1] Alexandros Mavrokordatos, a Phanariote intellectual and diplomat, was elected the first president of the Executive on 15 January 1822, holding office until 25 April 1823; he had presided over the assembly's sessions and contributed significantly to the constitution's drafting, emphasizing liberal principles influenced by Enlightenment ideals.^[8][9] Succeeding presidents, including Petros Mavromichalis (May 1823–August 1823 and April 1824–October 1824) and Georgios Kountouriotis (August 1823–April 1824 and October 1824–1825), navigated factional strife between islanders, mainlanders, and military leaders, which repeatedly disrupted governmental continuity.^[9] The provisional executive persisted until 1827, when the Third National Assembly, under pressure from great power mediation following the 1827 Battle of Navarino, appointed Ioannis Kapodistrias as Governor of Greece on 30 January 1828; this shifted authority to a unitary executive with dictatorial powers, sidelining the collective council until Kapodistrias's assassination on 27 September 1831.^[9] This period's institutional experiments, marked by democratic aspirations clashing with revolutionary exigencies, established precedents for executive leadership that evolved into the modern prime ministership under subsequent regimes.

Constitutional Changes Across Regimes

The office of prime minister emerged amid the transition from absolute monarchical rule to constitutional governance following the 3 September 1843 revolution, which compelled King Otto to convene a national assembly and grant the 1844 Constitution. This document vested executive authority in the king, who appointed and dismissed ministers responsible for his acts, thereby establishing the prime minister as the head of the ministerial council while subordinating the role to royal prerogative. Andreas Metaxas, appointed on 3 September 1843, is recognized as the first to hold the position, overseeing the drafting of the constitution until 16 February 1844.^[10][7] The 1864 Constitution, promulgated after Otto's deposition and the accession of King George I on 30 March 1863, advanced a "crowned democracy" by requiring ministers to secure parliamentary confidence—formalized through the 1895 "stated confidence" principle—while the monarch retained the power to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet. This balanced royal influence with legislative oversight, positioning the prime minister as the intermediary accountable to both the crown and parliament, a framework that persisted through the Glücksburg monarchy until the early 20th century.^[7][11] Under the Second Hellenic Republic (1924–1935), the 1927 Constitution transformed Greece into a parliamentary republic, electing a president with ceremonial duties and no veto or legislative initiative, while empowering the prime minister to lead the cabinet contingent on maintaining parliamentary trust via votes of confidence. The restored monarchy's 1952 Constitution reverted to a parliamentary system with the king as head of state appointing the prime minister from the majority party, subject to assembly approval, thereby reinforcing the office's dependence on legislative majorities amid separation of powers.^[7][11] The 1967–1974 military regime suspended constitutional norms, installing junta leaders as prime ministers under dictatorial control without parliamentary accountability, culminating in a 1973 decree abolishing the monarchy and imposing a presidential system that briefly merged executive roles before collapse. The ensuing 1975 Constitution, effective from 11 June 1975, enshrined a "presidential parliamentary republic" with a largely ceremonial president who appoints the prime minister based on parliamentary majority, vesting substantive executive powers—including policy direction, cabinet formation, and administration—in the prime minister and government, accountable solely to the unicameral parliament through confidence votes and no-confidence motions. This structure, revised in 1986, 2001, and 2008, centralized authority in the prime ministerial office, diminishing head-of-state influence to prevent monarchical or presidential overreach observed in prior regimes.^[7][11][11]

Premodern and Revolutionary Periods

First Hellenic Republic (1822–1833)

During the First Hellenic Republic (1822–1833), executive authority resided with provisional bodies amid the Greek War of Independence, lacking a distinct prime ministerial office. Governance began with the Executive (Ektelestiko), whose presidents were appointed by the Legislative Council (Vouleutiko) under the 1822 Constitution, functioning as collective heads of government. These roles evolved into administrative committees and, post-1827 National Assembly, a governorship emphasizing centralized control.^[9] The following table lists the principal executive leaders, with tenures reflecting appointments by revolutionary assemblies: Dates incorporate Gregorian equivalents where dual notations apply; tenures ended with the 1832 London Protocol establishing monarchy, effective 1833. Ioannis Kapodistrias's autocratic governorship centralized power but faced opposition, culminating in his assassination on 9 October 1831.^[9]

Monarchical Eras

Kingdom under Wittelsbach Dynasty (1833–1862)

The Kingdom of Greece under the Wittelsbach Dynasty began with the arrival of King Otto I on 25 January 1833 (N.S.), following the 1832 Treaty of Constantinople that established the monarchy after the Greek War of Independence. Otto, a Bavarian prince, initially governed as an absolute monarch without a constitution, relying on a council of Bavarian advisors and Greek officials to administer the nascent state. The heads of government during this early phase were styled as presidents of the ministerial council or equivalent, often Bavarian appointees tasked with implementing reforms in administration, finance, and law amid ongoing instability from revolutionary factions and economic challenges.^[12] The 3 September 1843 Revolution compelled Otto to grant a constitution on 18 March 1844, transforming Greece into a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. This marked the formal inception of the prime minister's office as president of the Council of Ministers, responsible to the king and, after 1844, increasingly to the elected Vouli (parliament). Greek politicians, many veterans of the independence struggle, assumed the role, navigating tensions between royal authority, great power influences (Britain, France, Russia), and domestic parties like the Russian, French, and English orientations. Governments were short-lived, reflecting elite factionalism and Otto's reluctance to fully cede power.^[13] Otto's deposition on 23 October 1862 by military unrest ended the Wittelsbach era, amid accusations of absolutism and failure to address irredentist aspirations like the Megali Idea. The ensuing regency period transitioned to the Glücksburg Dynasty. During 1833–1862, at least eight distinct heads of government served, with terms averaging under two years, underscoring political volatility.^[14] Subsequent governments under Otto included repeats by figures like Alexandros Mavrokordatos (1848, 1854–1855) and Dimitrios Voulgaris, but frequent cabinet reshuffles reflected ongoing instability until the 1862 coup. No single source enumerates all interim ministers exhaustively, as records emphasize key transitions over exhaustive chronologies.^[20]

Kingdom under Glücksburg Dynasty (1863–1924)

The House of Glücksburg assumed the Greek throne in June 1863 when Prince William of Denmark was elected King George I, ushering in a constitutional monarchy after the ousting of Otto of Wittelsbach amid widespread discontent with his governance. The Constitution of 1864 formalized a parliamentary system, vesting executive power in the king while making the prime minister head of government, accountable to the Vouli (parliament) and tasked with forming cabinets based on majority support.^[7] This era featured high political volatility, with over 80 governments in 61 years, driven by factional rivalries between Nationalists (conservatives favoring royal influence and expansionism) and reformers like the New Party, leading to frequent cabinet reshuffles and short tenures averaging under a year. Dominant leaders such as Dimitrios Voulgaris, Alexandros Koumoundouros, Charilaos Trikoupis, and Theodoros Deligiannis shaped policy, advancing infrastructure, fiscal reforms, and irredentist goals amid events like the Ionian Islands' cession to Greece in 1864, the Cretan revolts, and the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913. The period ended in turmoil with George I's assassination in 1913, Constantine I's pro-German stance during World War I sparking the National Schism, Allied intervention, military catastrophe in Asia Minor by 1922, and the National Assembly's vote to abolish the monarchy on 25 March 1924.^[1] The prime ministers during this dynasty's first phase (1863–1924) are enumerated in the following table, reflecting the era's instability through multiple non-consecutive terms for key figures.^[2] Subsequent governments under Constantine I included Eleftherios Venizelos (1910–1915, 1917–1920, 1924), who championed liberal reforms and Allied alignment in World War I, Dimitrios Gounaris (1921–1922), whose administration oversaw the Asia Minor campaign's failure, and Alexandros Papanastasiou, who proclaimed the Second Republic in 1924.

Restored Kingdom under Glücksburg (1935–1973)

The restored Kingdom of Greece under the House of Glücksburg commenced on 25 November 1935, following a plebiscite on 3 November that returned King George II to the throne after the abolition of the Second Hellenic Republic in 1924.^[21] This era encompassed authoritarian rule under Ioannis Metaxas from 1936 until his death in 1941, Axis occupation during World War II (1941–1944), a government-in-exile, the Dekemvriana clashes of December 1944, the Greek Civil War (1946–1949), post-war reconstruction under U.S. aid via the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan, and the colonels' military junta from 1967, which sidelined the monarchy while nominally preserving it until abolition by referendum in 1973.^[22] Prime ministerial tenures were frequently brief and transitional, reflecting regime instability, royal interventions, and military influence, with 30 individuals holding the office over 38 years.^[23] Key figures included Metaxas, who suspended the constitution on 4 August 1936 to impose a royalist dictatorship modeled on fascist regimes but emphasizing Greek antiquity and Orthodox Christianity; Konstantinos Karamanlis, serving longest from 1955 to 1963 and overseeing economic growth amid conservative dominance; and junta appointees like Georgios Papadopoulos, who transitioned from prime minister to regent in 1973 before the monarchy's end.^[22] The above compilation draws from chronological historical records of governmental heads during the period.^[24] Multiple short-lived cabinets arose from factional rivalries between royalists, Venizelists, and communists, exacerbated by external pressures such as Allied liberation in 1944 and NATO integration in 1952. The 1967 coup by mid-level officers ended parliamentary rule, installing military figures as prime ministers under King Constantine II until his failed counter-coup in December 1967, after which the regime persisted until 1974.

Republican and Interim Periods

Second Hellenic Republic (1924–1935)

The Second Hellenic Republic was proclaimed after the Greek parliament voted to abolish the monarchy on 25 March 1924, amid ongoing fallout from the 1922 military defeat in Asia Minor and the subsequent population exchange with Turkey, which brought over 1.2 million refugees into Greece and strained the economy.^[25] Political governance during this era was highly unstable, characterized by sharp divisions between Venizelist liberals favoring republicanism and modernization, and conservative or royalist factions, leading to short-lived cabinets, military coups (notably by Theodoros Pangalos in 1925), and repeated elections.^[25] Eleftherios Venizelos dominated much of the period after his return from exile, securing a landslide victory in the June 1928 elections with 48.5% of the vote, but subsequent governments faced gridlock over constitutional reforms, fiscal reforms, and royalist agitation, culminating in failed coups in 1933 and 1935 that precipitated the regime's collapse.^[26] The following table enumerates the prime ministers who held office during this period, with tenures reflecting the rapid turnover—averaging under one year per leader—driven by parliamentary no-confidence votes, caretaker roles, and authoritarian interruptions.^{[25] [24]} Interim or acting figures, such as Alexandros Othonaios in 1933, occasionally filled gaps but are not listed as full prime ministers.^[24] The republic's dissolution transitioned Greece back to constitutional monarchy under the Glücksburg dynasty, ending republican experimentation until 1974.^[25]

Military Regime (1967–1974)

The military regime in Greece, established by a coup d'état on 21 April 1967 led by mid-level army officers including Georgios Papadopoulos, Stylianos Pattakos, and Nikolaos Makarezos, suspended the constitution, imposed martial law, and suppressed political opposition through mass arrests and censorship.^[27] Real authority rested with the junta's triumvirate rather than the nominally appointed prime ministers, who functioned primarily as administrative figures under military oversight; the regime justified its rule as a defense against communism amid Cold War tensions, though it faced domestic resistance and international criticism for human rights abuses.^[28] The period ended on 24 July 1974 following the junta's mishandling of the Cyprus crisis, which prompted a Turkish invasion and prompted the regime's collapse, leading to democratic restoration.^[29] Prime ministers during this era included:

• Konstantinos Kollias (21 April 1967 – 13 December 1967): A conservative judge and former attorney general appointed by the junta immediately after the coup to provide a veneer of civilian legitimacy; he oversaw initial emergency measures but lacked independent power.^[2][24]
• Georgios Papadopoulos (13 December 1967 – 8 October 1973): The coup's chief architect, a colonel who assumed the premiership after King Constantine II's failed counter-coup in December 1967 prompted the monarch's exile; Papadopoulos centralized control, promoted economic development through infrastructure projects, and in 1973 orchestrated a referendum abolishing the monarchy to install himself as president.^[30][2][31]
• Spyridon Markezinis (8 October 1973 – 25 November 1973): A civilian politician and leader of the Progressive Party appointed by Papadopoulos to lead a nominal liberalization effort, including promises of elections; his 48-day tenure ended amid student protests crushed by tanks, leading to his dismissal in a hardline junta faction's putsch.^[32][33][24]
• Adamantios Androutsopoulos (25 November 1973 – 24 July 1974): An independent lawyer and former junta interior minister installed by Dimitrios Ioannides after the latter's coup against Papadopoulos; Androutsopoulos managed the regime's final months, including the disastrous Cyprus intervention that precipitated its downfall.^[34][2][35]

Contemporary Democratic Period

Third Hellenic Republic (1974–present)

The Third Hellenic Republic commenced on 24 July 1974, following the collapse of the military junta and the return from exile of Konstantinos Karamanlis, who was appointed prime minister to oversee the transition to parliamentary democracy, including a national referendum on 8 December 1974 that abolished the monarchy with 69.2% approval.^[25] Governments since then have alternated between the center-right New Democracy (ND) party and center-left parties such as PASOK and, more recently, the left-wing Syriza, amid economic challenges including the 2009-2018 debt crisis that necessitated international bailouts totaling €289 billion from the EU, ECB, and IMF.^[3] The role of the prime minister remains central, heading the executive and requiring parliamentary confidence, with 15 individuals holding the office as of October 2025.^[4] The following table enumerates the prime ministers, their terms, and political affiliations, drawing from governmental transitions verified across multiple historical records.^{[25] [24]} Short-term technocratic and caretaker governments, such as those under Zolotas, Papademos, and Thanou-Christofilou, were formed during political instability or pending elections, often to manage economic reforms or EU negotiations.^[36] Kyriakos Mitsotakis, re-elected in June 2023 with ND securing 40.8% of the vote, continues to lead as of October 2025, focusing on post-crisis recovery and EU integration.^{[37] [38]}

Analytical Overviews

Tenure Statistics and Longest-Serving Leaders

Since the establishment of the modern Greek state in 1822, Greece has had 106 distinct prime ministers, accounting for 192 separate premierships due to multiple non-consecutive terms for some individuals.^[1] Turnover has historically been high, with average rates exceeding one prime minister per year in several periods, such as 1.4 per year during the Glücksburg Dynasty (1863–1924) and 1.5 per year during the restored Kingdom (1935–1973), reflecting political instability, frequent elections, and interim governments.^[1] Overall, the average tenure per premiership approximates 1 year, though post-1974 democratic stability has lengthened terms, with only 0.4 prime ministers per year in the Third Hellenic Republic.^[1] The longest continuous tenures occurred in the modern era, with Costas Simitis holding office from January 1996 to March 2004 (8 years and 49 days), overseeing economic reforms and eurozone entry preparations.^[39][1] Andreas Papandreou followed with 7 years and 248 days from October 1981 to June 1989, during which PASOK implemented expansive social policies.^[1] Cumulative tenure, aggregating non-consecutive terms, favors leaders with repeated mandates amid factional politics. Konstantinos Karamanlis accumulated 14 years across four premierships (1955–1963 and 1974–1980), stabilizing post-civil war governance and transitioning to democracy after the junta.^[40] Eleftherios Venizelos totaled 12 years and 5 months over seven terms (1910–1915, 1917–1920, 1924, 1928–1932, and 1933), driving territorial expansion and liberal reforms despite the National Schism.^[41] Shortest tenures, often transitional, include Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou's 38 days in 2015 amid debt crisis caretaker duties.^[1] Such brevity underscores Greece's parliamentary system's reliance on majority confidence, prone to collapses in fragmented parliaments pre-1974.^[1]

Partisan Breakdown and Political Shifts

In the period following the restoration of democracy in 1974, Greek prime ministers have predominantly affiliated with two major parties: New Democracy (ND), a center-right party emphasizing pro-market reforms and national stability, and the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), a socialist party focused on state intervention and social welfare expansion. Konstantinos G. Karamanlis of ND led from 1974 to 1980, stabilizing the post-junta transition, followed by Georgios Rallis of ND from 1980 to 1981.^[3] Andreas Papandreou of PASOK then governed from 1981 to 1989 and again from 1993 to 1996, marking the first socialist administration in modern Greek history and introducing policies like nationalizations and labor protections.^{[42] [3]} Subsequent shifts saw Tzannis Tzannetakis (ND interim) and Konstantinos Mitsotakis (ND) from 1989 to 1993, followed by extended PASOK rule under Papandreou (1993–1996) and Kostas Simitis (1996–2004), during which Greece adopted the euro but accumulated substantial public debt. ND returned under Kostas Karamanlis from 2004 to 2009, amid emerging fiscal strains. George A. Papandreou (PASOK) served briefly from 2009 to 2011, revealing the sovereign debt crisis that necessitated international bailouts.^[3] Lucas Papademos (technocratic, 2011–2012) and Antonis Samaras (ND coalition, 2012–2015) managed austerity measures, after which Alexis Tsipras of Syriza (radical left) held power from 2015 to 2019, initially resisting but ultimately accepting bailout terms. Kyriakos Mitsotakis of ND has led since 2019, prioritizing deregulation and recovery, securing re-election in 2023.^{[36] [3]} Prior to 1974, formal partisan structures were looser, with 19th-century governments oscillating between liberal (e.g., Constitutional Party) and conservative (e.g., National Party) factions amid monarchical influences, often tied to foreign patronages rather than ideological consistency. 20th-century interwar and post-WWII politics featured alternation between the Liberal Party (center-left) and People's Party (right-wing), disrupted by the 1936–1944 dictatorship, civil war, and 1967–1974 military regime, during which PMs served under authoritarian constraints without competitive partisan elections.^[43] The ND-PASOK duopoly, capturing over 80% of votes in most elections from 1974 to 2009, eroded during the debt crisis, fragmenting the system as voter disillusionment with bailout politics boosted Syriza temporarily before ND's resurgence established center-right predominance by the 2020s, reflecting public preference for fiscal prudence over expansive statism amid economic recovery.^{[44] [45]} This shift underscores causal links between prior socialist expansions and fiscal vulnerabilities, though academic and media analyses often attribute crises more to global factors than domestic policy choices, potentially reflecting institutional biases toward downplaying left-leaning governance failures.^[45]