View source for George Papandreou

{{short description|Greek politician, president of the Socialist International (born 1952)}}
{{For|George Papandreou's namesake grandfather|Georgios Papandreou}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = George Papandreou
| native_name         = {{nobold|{{Lang|el|Γιώργος Παπανδρέου}}}}
| image               = George Papandreou May 2011 (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Papandreou in 2011

| office              = [[Prime Minister of Greece]]
| president           = [[Karolos Papoulias]]
| deputy              = {{ubl|[[Theodoros Pangalos (politician)|Theodoros Pangalos]]|[[Evangelos Venizelos]]}}
| term_start          = 6 October 2009
| term_end            = 11 November 2011
| predecessor         = [[Kostas Karamanlis]]
| successor           = [[Lucas Papademos]]

| office1             = [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Greece)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| primeminister1      = [[Kostas Karamanlis]]
| term_start1         = 10 March 2004
| term_end1           = 6 October 2009
| predecessor1        = Kostas Karamanlis
| successor1          = Kostas Karamanlis 

{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Other political offices 
 |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes

| office2             = President of the [[Movement of Democratic Socialists]]
| term_start2         = 3 January 2015 
| term_end2           =
| predecessor2        = Office established

| office3             = President of the [[Socialist International]]
| term_start3         = 30 January 2006
| term_end3           = 25 November 2022
| 1blankname3         = {{nowrap|Secretary General}}
| 1namedata3          = [[Luis Ayala (politician)|Luis Ayala]]
| predecessor3        = [[António Guterres]]
| successor3          = [[Pedro Sánchez]]

| office6             = President of the [[Panhellenic Socialist Movement]]
| term_start6         = 8 February 2004
| term_end6           = 18 March 2012
| predecessor6        = [[Costas Simitis]]
| successor6          = [[Evangelos Venizelos]]

| office4             = [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
| primeminister4      = {{em|Himself}}
| term_start4         = 6 October 2009
| term_end4           = 7 September 2010
| predecessor4        = [[Dora Bakoyannis]]
| successor4          = [[Dimitrios Droutsas]]
| primeminister5      = [[Costas Simitis]]
| term_start5         = 18 February 1999
| term_end5           = 13 February 2004
| predecessor5        = [[Theodoros Pangalos (politician)|Theodoros Pangalos]]
| successor5          = [[Tassos Yiannitsis]]

| office7             = [[Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports|Minister of National Education and Religious Affairs]]
| primeminister7      = [[Andreas Papandreou]]
| term_start7         = 8 July 1994
| term_end7           = 25 September 1996
| predecessor7        = [[Dimitrios Fatouros]]
| successor7          = [[Gerasimos Arsenis]]
| primeminister8      = [[Andreas Papandreou]]
| term_start8         = 22 June 1988
| term_end8           = 2 July 1989
| predecessor8        = [[Apostolos Kaklamanis]]
| successor8          = [[Vasileios Kontogiannopoulos]]

| office9             = Member of the [[Hellenic Parliament]]
| term_start9         = 17 July 2019 
| term_end9           =
| constituency9       = [[Achaea (constituency)|Achaea]]
| term_start10        = 18 October 1981
| term_end10          = 31 December 2014 
| constituency10      = [[Achaea (constituency)|Achaea]]

{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}} 

| birth_name          = George Jeffrey Papandreou<ref>{{cite web|title=George Jeffrey Papandreou – Minnesota Birth Index|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VCXD-KMN|website=FamilySearch|access-date=25 June 2016|archive-date=1 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701100624/https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VCXD-KMN|url-status=live}}</ref>
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1952|6|16|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], U.S. 
| party               = {{ubl|[[Panhellenic Socialist Movement]] (before 2015)|[[Movement of Democratic Socialists]] (2015–present)}}
| otherparty          = [[PASOK – Movement for Change]]
| spouse              = {{ubl|{{marriage|Eva Zissimidou|1976|1987|reason=divorce}}|{{marriage|Ada Papapanou|1989|2016|reason=divorce}}}}
| children            = 2
| alma_mater          = {{ubl|[[Amherst College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])|[[London School of Economics]] (MSc)}}
| website             = {{URL|papandreou.gr}}
| parents             = [[Andreas Papandreou]] (father)<br>
[[Margaret Chant-Papandreou]] (mother)
| signature           = George-Papandreou-junior-signature.svg
}}
{{George Papandreou sidebar}}
'''George Andreas Papandreou''' ({{langx|el|Γεώργιος Ανδρέας Παπανδρέου}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.papandreou.gr/papandreou/content/Home.aspx?d=6&rd=7739474&f=-1&rf=-1&m=-1&rm=-1&l=1|title=George A. Papandreou Personal Site|publisher=Papandreou|access-date=4 November 2011|archive-date=26 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126135531/http://www.papandreou.gr/papandreou/content/Home.aspx?d=6&rd=7739474&f=-1&rf=-1&m=-1&rm=-1&l=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.primeminister.gov.gr/english/george-papandreou/ |title=Government of Greece via Internet Archive |publisher=Prime Ministry |access-date=11 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606022703/http://www.primeminister.gov.gr/english/george-papandreou/ |archive-date=6 June 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.primeminister.gov.gr/english/george-papandreou/curriculum-vitae/ |title=Official curriculum-vitae of George A. Papandreou from the Greek Government website via Internet Archive |publisher=Prime Ministry |access-date=11 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110232741/http://www.primeminister.gov.gr/english/george-papandreou/curriculum-vitae/ |archive-date=10 November 2011 }}</ref> {{IPA|el|ʝeˈorʝios papanˈðreu|pron}}, shortened to ''Giorgos'' ({{lang|el|Γιώργος}}) {{IPA|el|ˈʝorɣos|}} to distinguish him from [[Georgios Papandreou|his grandfather]]; born 16 June 1952) is an American-born Greek politician who served as [[Prime Minister of Greece]] from [[2009 Greek parliamentary election|2009]] to 2011. He is currently serving as an MP for [[PASOK – Movement for Change|PASOK-Kinima Allagis]].

Belonging to a [[Political family|political dynasty]] of long standing, he served under his father, then-prime minister [[Andreas Papandreou]] as [[Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports|Minister for National Education and Religious Affairs]] (1988–1989 and 1994–1996). He served as [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]] under Prime Minister [[Costas Simitis]] from 1999 to 2004. Papandreou was leader of the [[Panhellenic Socialist Movement]] (PASOK) party, which his father founded, from February 2004 until March 2012, and has been president of the [[Socialist International]] from 30 January 2006 to 25 November 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=President, Secretary General and Vice-Presidents elected by the Congress |url=https://www.socialistinternational.org/congresses/xxvi-congress-of-the-socialist-international-madrid/president-secretary-general-and-vice-presidents-elected-by-the-congress/ |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=Socialist International |language=en}}</ref>

On 6 October 2009, George Papandreou became the 182nd Prime Minister of [[Greece]]. He was the third member of the [[List of political families in Greece#P|Papandreou family]] to serve as the country's prime minister, following his father Andreas and his grandfather [[Georgios Papandreou]]. He resigned on 11 November 2011 during the [[Greek government debt crisis]] to make way for a [[national unity government]].

In March 2012, he resigned as leader of PASOK, and in January 2015, he left the party completely, founding his own political party, the [[Movement of Democratic Socialists]] (KIDISO), which was the 8th most voted-for party in the [[January 2015 Greek parliamentary election|January 2015 elections]], but did not manage to enter Parliament. In 2017, KIDISO joined the [[Democratic Alignment (2015)|Democratic Alignment]], a political alliance formed by PASOK and other centre-left parties. Democratic Alignment later evolved into [[Movement for Change (Greece)|Movement for Change]], which in the [[2019 Greek parliamentary election|2019 elections]] was the third most voted-for party, with Papandreou himself returning to Parliament as an MP representing the region of [[Achaea]].

==Early life and education==
Papandreou was born 16 June 1952 in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], United States, where his father, [[Andreas Papandreou]], at that time held a professorship at the [[University of Minnesota]]. His mother is the American-born [[Margaret Chant-Papandreou|Margaret Papandreou]], ''née'' Chant. He [[Relinquishment of United States nationality|renounced his US citizenship]] in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 June 2000|title=Quarterly Publication of Individuals, Who Have Chosen To Expatriate, as Required by Section 6039G|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2000/06/02/00-13775/quarterly-publication-of-individuals-who-have-chosen-to-expatriate-as-required-by-section-6039g|access-date=23 July 2020|website=Federal Register|archive-date=23 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723222014/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2000/06/02/00-13775/quarterly-publication-of-individuals-who-have-chosen-to-expatriate-as-required-by-section-6039g|url-status=live}}</ref>

He received his secondary education at schools in [[Illinois]] in the United States, in Sweden, and graduated from [[King City Secondary School]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/greek-prime-minister-george-papandreous-surprise-connection-to-canada|title=Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou's surprise connection to Canada|last=Humphreys|first=Adrian|newspaper=[[National Post]]|date=2 November 2011|access-date=10 January 2017|archive-date=9 November 2021|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20211109030050/https://nationalpost.com/category/news/|url-status=live}}</ref> (near [[Toronto]]) in Canada in 1970.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-15551196|title=Profile: George Papandreou|work=[[BBC News]]|date=6 November 2011|access-date=10 January 2017|archive-date=24 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624150320/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-15551196|url-status=live}}</ref> He attended [[Amherst College]] in [[Massachusetts]] (where he was a friend and dormitory roommate of future political rival and prime minister of Greece himself, [[Antonis Samaras]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_columns_1_04/12/2009_113043|title=As good as it gets|date=4 December 2009|publisher=ekathimerini|access-date=8 December 2009|archive-date=7 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207120306/http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_columns_1_04/12/2009_113043|url-status=live}}</ref>), [[Stockholm University]], the [[London School of Economics]] and [[Harvard University]]. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Amherst (1975) and a master's degree in sociology from the LSE (1977). He was a researcher on immigration issues at Stockholm University in 1972–73. He was also a fellow of the Foreign Relations Center of [[Harvard University]] in 1992–93.
 	
In 2002 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws by Amherst College and in 2006 he was named distinguished professor in the Center for Hellenic Studies by [[Georgia State University|Georgia State College of Arts and Science]].
 	
Papandreou's father studied and worked as professor of economics from 1939 to 1959. His paternal grandfather, [[Georgios Papandreou]], was a three-time prime minister of Greece.

==Political career==
[[File:George papandreou.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Papandreou in 2001, as Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
The younger George Papandreou came to Greece after the [[Metapolitefsi|restoration of Greek democracy]] in 1974. He then became active in the political party his father had founded, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). He joined the Central Committee of PASOK in 1984.

Papandreou was elected to the Greek Parliament in 1981, the year his father became prime minister, as MP for the constituency of [[Achaea]]. He became Under Secretary for Cultural Affairs in 1985, Minister of Education and Religious Affairs in 1988, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1993, Minister for Education and Religious Affairs again in 1994, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs again in 1996 and Minister of Foreign Affairs in February 1999. He was also Minister Responsible for Government Coordination for the Bid for [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Olympic Games]] in 1997.

In his second term as Minister of Education, Papandreou was the first politician in Greece to introduce [[affirmative action]], allocating 5% of university posts for the Muslim minority in [[Western Thrace|Thrace]]. He was also instrumental in initiating the [[Open University]] in Greece.

Papandreou received numerous awards and honorary degrees in recognition of his work for human rights. As foreign minister he fostered closer relations with Turkey and Albania. He worked to solve the [[Cyprus dispute|dispute over Cyprus]]. Papandreou also worked to resolve tensions regarding the [[Macedonia naming dispute]]. Papandreou stated in 1999 that he supported [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|Turkey's application to join the European Union]].<ref>{{cite news|title=World: Europe EU warms towards Turkey|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/445482.stm|access-date=23 February 2015|work=BBC News|date=13 September 1999|archive-date=4 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104192945/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/445482.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2003, [[European Voice]] shortlisted him for nomination of the [[European of the Year (European Voice award)|Europeans of the Year]] award as "Diplomat of the Year",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/ev50-europeans-of-the-year-2003/48225.aspx|title=EV50: Europeans of the Year 2003|newspaper=European Voice|access-date=3 December 2011|archive-date=14 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314051535/http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/ev50-europeans-of-the-year-2003/48225.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europeanvoice.com/page/the-evawards-europeans-of-the-year-winners-in-2003/2764.aspx|title=EV award winners: Europeans of the Year 2003|newspaper=EuropeanVoice|access-date=3 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314050401/http://www.europeanvoice.com/page/the-evawards-europeans-of-the-year-winners-in-2003/2764.aspx|archive-date=14 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> naming him as "The Bridge-Builder" and quoting ''[[Le Monde]]'' that dubbed him the "architect of Greek-Turkish rapprochement".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.papandreou.gr/papandreou/content/Document.aspx?d=6&rd=7739474&f=1354&rf=1290836267&m=3822&rm=22164866&l=1|title=George A. Papandreou Personal Site|publisher=Papandreou|access-date=4 November 2011|archive-date=22 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922013858/http://www.papandreou.gr/papandreou/content/Document.aspx?d=6&rd=7739474&f=1354&rf=1290836267&m=3822&rm=22164866&l=1|url-status=live}}</ref> He is a founding member of the [[Helsinki Citizens' Assembly]].

==President of PASOK (2004–2012)== 
In anticipation of the 2004 national elections in Greece, polls indicated that PASOK was very likely to lose as the conservative [[New Democracy (Greece)|New Democracy]] party was heading towards a landslide. In January 2004, the incumbent PM [[Costas Simitis]] announced his resignation as leader of PASOK, and passed the leadership to Papandreou by recommending him as the new leader. On 8 February 2004 PASOK introduced for the first time the procedure of open primaries for the election of party leadership. Even if Papandreou had no opponent, this was a move designed to solidify the open primaries, democratize the party, and make a clean break with the tradition of "dynastic politics".

In May 2005, Papandreou was elected vice president of the [[Socialist International]] following a proposal by the former president, [[António Guterres]]. In January 2006, Papandreou was unanimously elected president of the Socialist International.

In the [[2007 Greek legislative election|2007 general election]], PASOK again lost to the incumbent [[New Democracy (Greece)|New Democracy]] party of [[Kostas Karamanlis]] and Papandreou's leadership was challenged by [[Evangelos Venizelos]] and [[Kostas Skandalidis]]. Papandreou, however, retained his party's leadership at a [[2007 PASOK leadership election|leadership election]] in November.

In June 2009 and under his leadership, his party won the [[2009 European Parliament election in Greece]].<ref name="European election results 2009">{{cite web|url=http://ekloges-prev.singularlogic.eu/e2009/pages/index.html?lang=en|title=European election results 2009 for Greece|work=Results of the 2009 European Elections|publisher=Ministry of Internal Affairs|access-date=6 October 2009|archive-date=29 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429175357/http://ekloges-prev.singularlogic.eu/e2009/pages/index.html?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref> Four months later, PASOK won the [[2009 Greek legislative election|October 2009 general elections]] with 43.92% of the popular vote to [[New Democracy (Greece)|ND]]'s 33.48%, and 160 parliament seats to 91.<ref name="Results 2009 Greek legislative elections">{{cite web|title=Greek legislative election, 2009 results |url=http://ekloges.ypes.gr/pages/index.html?lang=en |work=Results of the 2009 Greek legislative elections |publisher=Ministry of Internal Affairs |access-date=6 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610163929/http://ekloges.ypes.gr/pages/index.html?lang=en |archive-date=10 June 2009 }}</ref>

==Prime Minister of Greece (2009–2011)== 
{{see also|Greek austerity packages}}
[[File:Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou taking his Oath of Office - 2009Oct06.jpg|thumb|left|George Papandreou takes the [[oath of office]] of the Prime Minister of Greece.]]

===Taking office and revelations===
The inauguration of George Papandreou as the 182nd [[Prime Minister of Greece]] took place on 6 October 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8292278.stm|title=Papandreou sworn in as Greek PM|date=6 October 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=6 October 2009|archive-date=6 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006101217/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8292278.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Upon inauguration, Papandreou's government revealed that its finances were far worse than previous announcements, with a [[budget deficit|year deficit]] of 12.7% of GDP, four times more than the [[eurozone]]'s limit, and a [[public debt]] of $410&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1964443,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219054230/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1964443,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 February 2010|title=Greece Bailout: France, Germany Angry Over Rescue|date=16 February 2010|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=17 February 2010}}</ref> This announcement served only to worsen the severe crisis the Greek economy was undergoing, with an [[unemployment rate]] of 10%<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8510386.stm|title=Greece's unemployment rate hits 10%|date=11 February 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=17 February 2010|archive-date=14 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214111216/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8510386.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and the country's [[Bond credit rating|debt rating]] being lowered to BBB+, the lowest in the eurozone.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1946594,00.html?iid=sphere-inline-sidebar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604103203/http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1946594,00.html?iid=sphere-inline-sidebar |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2011 |title=Greece's Debt and Economy Woes: As Bad as Dubai's?|date=9 December 2009|magazine=Time |access-date=17 February 2010}}</ref> Papandreou responded by promoting austerity measures,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8494849.stm|title=Greece unveils austerity programme to cut deficit|date=3 February 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=17 February 2010|archive-date=7 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207001603/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8494849.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> reducing spending, increasing taxes,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1959059,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208215117/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1959059,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 February 2010|title=Greek Tragedy: Athens' Financial Woes|date=15 February 2010|magazine=Time |access-date=17 February 2010}}</ref> freezing additional taxes and hiring and introducing measures aimed at combatting rampant tax evasion<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8509244.stm|title=No tax please, we're Greek|date=11 February 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=17 February 2010|archive-date=17 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217081643/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8509244.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and reducing the country's [[public sector]]. The announced austerity program caused a wave of nationwide strikes<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8507551.stm|title=Greece hit by nationwide strike over austerity measures|date=10 February 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=17 February 2010|archive-date=18 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218031434/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8507551.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and has been criticised by both the EU and the eurozone nations' finance ministers as falling short of its goals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8517499.stm|title=Greece told to make more spending cuts|date=16 February 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=17 February 2010|archive-date=18 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218033556/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8517499.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Crisis management and bailouts=== 
{{See also|Greek government-debt crisis}}
On 23 April 2010 during a visit at the island of Kastelorizo, Papandreou issued a statement to the press that he instructed Finance Minister [[Giorgos Papakonstantinou|Papakonstantinou]] to officially ask the EU partners to activate the support mechanism, 'an unprecedented mechanism in the history and practice of the [[European Union]]'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.papandreou.gr/papandreou/content/Document.aspx?d=6&rd=7739474&f=1722&rf=-1850948134&m=12893&rm=20504593&l=1|title=George A. Papandreou: Personal Site|publisher=Papandreou|access-date=6 November 2011|archive-date=21 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921151703/http://www.papandreou.gr/papandreou/content/Document.aspx?d=6&rd=7739474&f=1722&rf=-1850948134&m=12893&rm=20504593&l=1|url-status=live}}</ref> The support mechanism, which was put in place by the European heads of state and government and further elaborated by [[Eurogroup]] ministers, is a European mechanism to which the [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] is associated with financing and it involves a comprehensive three-year economic program and financing conditions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.imf.org/external/np/tr/2010/tr042510.htm|title=Transcript of a Press Conference by George Papaconstantinou, Finance Minister of Greece|date=25 April 2010|work=IMF|access-date=6 November 2011|archive-date=26 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026234554/http://www.imf.org/external/np/tr/2010/tr042510.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 23 April 2010, [[Dominique Strauss-Kahn]], the managing director of the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) announced that Greece made a request for a [[IMF Stand-By Arrangement|Stand-By Arrangement]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2010/pr10168.htm|title=Statement by IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn on Greece|date=23 April 2010|work=IMF|access-date=6 November 2011|archive-date=26 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026225701/http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2010/pr10168.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Papandreou and his Finance Minister [[Giorgos Papakonstantinou]] managed to convince the IMF and EU to participate in a [[Greek government-debt crisis#Rescue packages provided by the EU and IMF|€110bn bailout package]] on 9 May 2010.  Greece's [[Sovereign default|sovereign debt crisis]], considered part of the [[Euro area crisis|European sovereign debt crisis]], was marked by [[Anti-austerity movement in Greece|massive strikes and demonstrations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ametroepeia.pblogs.gr/2011/11/o-kybos-errifthh-alea-jacta-est-and-shit-has-hit-the-fan.html|title=wrath of the People|publisher=Mike Kamateros|access-date=29 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112063359/http://ametroepeia.pblogs.gr/2011/11/o-kybos-errifthh-alea-jacta-est-and-shit-has-hit-the-fan.html|archive-date=12 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In an opinion poll published on 18 May 2011, 77% of the people asked said they had no faith in Papandreou as prime minister in handling the [[Greek government-debt crisis|Greek economic crisis]].<ref name="Public Issue">{{cite web|title=Μνημόνιο ένα χρόνο μετά: Αποδοκιμασία, αγανάκτηση, απαξίωση, ανασφάλεια (One Year after the Memorandum: Disapproval, Anger, Disdain, Insecurity)|url=http://www.skai.gr/news/politics/article/169875/mnimonio-ena-hrono-meta-apodokimasia-aganaktisi-apaxiosi-anasfaleia/|publisher=skai|access-date=18 May 2011|date=18 May 2011|archive-date=12 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812064156/http://www.skai.gr/news/politics/article/169875/mnimonio-ena-hrono-meta-apodokimasia-aganaktisi-apaxiosi-anasfaleia/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 25 May 2011 the [[Direct Democracy Now!|Real Democracy Now!]] movement [[Anti-austerity movement in Greece|started protesting]] in Athens and other major Greek cities. At the time, the peaceful protests were considered to be a sign of popular rejection of Mr. Papandreou and his government's economic policies,<ref name="BBC parliament camps">{{cite news|title=Inside the Greek parliament protest camp|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-13900005|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 June 2011|date=24 June 2011|archive-date=27 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627032635/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13900005|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBC cuts">{{cite news|title=Greece austerity: PM Papandreou tries to persuade MPs|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13877932|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 June 2011|date=22 June 2011|archive-date=24 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624113138/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13877932|url-status=live}}</ref> with as much as three-quarters of the Greek population being against the policies of the Papandreou government.<ref name="BBC EU leaders">{{cite news|title=EU leaders urge Greek politicians to support new cuts|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-13900008|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 June 2011|date=24 June 2011|archive-date=13 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713104106/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13900008|url-status=live}}</ref> Among the demands of the demonstrations at Athens's central square, who claim to have been over 500,000 at one point,<ref name="Skai 500,000">{{cite web|script-title=el:"Αγανακτισμένοι": Πρωτοφανής συμμετοχή σε Αθήνα και άλλες πόλεις|url=http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/171424/aganaktismenoi-protofanis-summetohi-se-athina-kai-alles-poleis-/|publisher=skai|access-date=24 June 2011|date=5 June 2011|language=el|archive-date=17 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717160132/http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/171424/aganaktismenoi-protofanis-summetohi-se-athina-kai-alles-poleis-/|url-status=live |author1=Σκαϊ }}</ref> was the resignation of Papandreou and his government.

In the early hours of 22 June, George Papandreou and his government narrowly survived a [[Motion of no confidence]] in the [[Hellenic Parliament]], with 155 of the 300 seats in parliament.<ref name="BBC confidence">{{cite news|title=Greek government survives confidence vote|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13869428|publisher=BBC|access-date=21 June 2011|date=21 June 2011|archive-date=22 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622112016/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13869428|url-status=live}}</ref> His government held 152 seats.<ref name="Parliamentary Groups">{{cite web|url=http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/Vouleftes/Ana-Koinovouleftiki-Omada/|title=Βουλευτές – Ανά Κοινοβουλευτική Ομάδα|trans-title=MPs – By Parliamentary Group|publisher=Hellenic Parliament|access-date=25 August 2011|archive-date=9 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909082920/http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/Vouleftes/Ana-Koinovouleftiki-Omada/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 17 September, he cancelled a visit to the IMF building in Washington, D.C., and the [[Headquarters of the United Nations|UN Headquarters]] in New York City amid mounting concern over the country's debt crisis.<ref>{{cite news|title=Greek crisis: PM George Papandreou cancels US visit|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14960216|work=BBC News|access-date=17 September 2011|date=18 September 2011|archive-date=17 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917170952/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14960216|url-status=live}}</ref>

An opinion poll by Public Issue{{clarify|date=November 2011}} on behalf of [[Skai TV]] and [[Kathimerini]] in October 2011 showed that Papandreou's popularity had dropped considerably.<ref name="Barometro Okt 2011">{{cite news|url=http://www.skai.gr/files/1/PDF/varometroskaitVoktober.pdf|title=Πολιτικό Βαρόμετρο 95 – Οκτώβριος 2011|date=October 2011|publisher=Skai|access-date=7 October 2011|archive-date=3 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103092607/http://www.skai.gr/files/1/PDF/varometroskaitVoktober.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Of the people asked, only 23% had a positive view of George Papandreou,<ref name="Barometro Okt 2011"/> while 73% had a negative opinion;<ref name="Barometro Okt 2011"/> ranking him lower than any other leader of a party in the [[Hellenic Parliament]].<ref name="Barometro Okt 2011"/> Papandreou also ranked low on the question of who is more suitable for prime minister, with just 22%, as both [[Antonis Samaras]] (28%) and "neither" (47%) ranked higher than him.<ref name="Barometro Okt 2011"/>

[[Image:George Papandreou, Antonis Samaras and Karolos Papoulias.jpg|thumb|George Papandreou and [[Antonis Samaras]] with [[Karolos Papoulias]], the [[President of Greece]], on 6 November 2011 discussing the formation of a caretaker government.]]

On 26 October 2011, the European Summit agreed to hand to the Greek government the Sixth [[Tranche]] of €8&nbsp;billion bailout early in the 2012, while the private-sector banks, the holders of Greek debt, have agreed to a 50% [[Haircut (finance)|haircut]] on their outstanding Greek government bonds.<ref>{{cite news|title=Eurozone crisis: banks agree 50% reduction on Greece's debt|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/27/eurozone-crisis-banks-50-greece|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=11 November 2011|date=27 October 2011|location=London|first=David|last=Gow|archive-date=1 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001042230/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/27/eurozone-crisis-banks-50-greece|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 28 October 2011, during the national day parade, protesters blocked the parades, forcing the [[President of Greece]] and other officials to leave.<ref>{{cite news|title=Greek protesters call president 'traitor,' halt parade|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-greece-protest-idUSTRE79R27O20111028|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=11 November 2011|date=28 October 2011|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306193228/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-greece-protest-idUSTRE79R27O20111028|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Called-off referendum and stepping aside===

On 31 October, Papandreou announced his government's plans to hold a [[2011 Greek economy referendum attempt|referendum]] on the acceptance of the terms of a [[eurozone]] bailout deal.<ref name="Skai Dimopsifisma Papandreou">{{cite web |url=http://www.skai.gr/news/politics/article/184900/dimopsifisma-kai-psifo-ebistosunis-zitise-o-prothupourgos-/ |title=Ρίσκα και αβεβαιότητες από την πολιτική "βόμβα" για δημοψήφισμα |date=31 October 2011 |trans-title=Risks and uncertainties by the political "bomb" for a referendum |publisher=[[Skai TV]] |access-date=31 October 2011 |archive-date=3 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203000841/http://www.skai.gr/news/politics/article/184900/dimopsifisma-kai-psifo-ebistosunis-zitise-o-prothupourgos-/ |url-status=live |author1=Σκαϊ }}</ref> The referendum was to be held in December 2011 or January 2012.<ref name="Skai Dimopsifisma Venizelos">{{cite web|url=http://www.skai.gr/news/politics/article/184902/eu-venizelos-apo-to-neo-etos-to-dimopsifisma-/|title=Ευ. Βενιζέλος: Από το νέο έτος το δημοψήφισμα|date=31 October 2011 |trans-title=Evangelos Venizelos: Referendum to take place after the new year|publisher=[[Skai TV]]|access-date=31 October 2011|archive-date=10 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202841/http://www.skai.gr/news/politics/article/184902/eu-venizelos-apo-to-neo-etos-to-dimopsifisma-/|url-status=live |author1=Σκαϊ }}</ref> However, following the insistence of EU leaders at the G20 summit in Cannes that the referendum should be on Greece's continued membership of the eurozone, and severe criticism of such a referendum by Greek Finance Minister Venizelos and within parliament, Papandreou scrapped the plan on 3 November.<ref name="Cannes EU Summit">{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f6f4d6b4-ca2e-11e3-ac05-00144feabdc0|title=How the Euro Was Saved|work=[[Financial Times]] |date=11 May 2014|access-date=11 April 2015|archive-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405102101/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f6f4d6b4-ca2e-11e3-ac05-00144feabdc0.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 5 November, his government only narrowly won a [[Motion of no confidence|confidence vote]] in parliament<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15604169 "Greek PM Papandreou faces unity challenge over bailout"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002041415/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15604169 |date=2 October 2018 }} at bbc.co.uk</ref> and opposition leader [[Antonis Samaras]] called for immediate elections. The next day Papandreou met with opposition leaders trying to reach an agreement on the formation of an [[provisional government|interim]] [[national unity government]]. However, Samaras gave in only after Papandreou agreed to step aside, allowing the EU bailout to proceed and paving the way for [[May 2012 Greek parliamentary election|elections]] on 19 February 2012.<ref name="unity">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/06/papandreou-greek-leaders-unity-deal|title=Papandreou out as Greek leaders agree unity government deal|last1=Kington|first1=Tom|last2=Smith|first2=Helena|newspaper=The Guardian|date=6 November 2011|access-date=6 November 2011|location=London|archive-date=1 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001064314/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/06/papandreou-greek-leaders-unity-deal|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/greek-pm-george-papandreou-resigns;-polls-set-for-february/1/19851.html|title=Greek PM George Papandreou resigns; polls set for February|newspaper=Business Today|access-date=7 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402040032/http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/greek-pm-george-papandreou-resigns;-polls-set-for-february/1/19851.html|archive-date=2 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Both the [[Communist Party of Greece|Communist Party]] (KKE) and the leftist [[Syriza|SYRIZA coalition]] had refused Papandreou's invitation to join talks on a new unity government.<ref>{{cite web|title=Political opposition divided over unity government|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_07/11/2011_413717|publisher=e.kathemerini|access-date=11 November 2011|date=7 November 2011|archive-date=4 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104025140/http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_07/11/2011_413717|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following several days of intense negotiations, the two major parties along with the [[Popular Orthodox Rally]] agreed to form a [[grand coalition]] headed by former vice president of the [[European Central Bank]] [[Lucas Papademos]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Lucas Papademos named as new Greek prime minister|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-eing15671354|work=BBC News|access-date=10 November 2011|date=10 November 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> On 10 November, George Papandreou formally resigned as Prime Minister of Greece.<ref>{{cite news|title=George Papandreou resigns as Greece's prime minister|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/8879647/George-Papandreou-resigns-as-Greeces-prime-minister.html|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=11 November 2011|date=9 November 2011|location=London|archive-date=10 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110195907/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/8879647/George-Papandreou-resigns-as-Greeces-prime-minister.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Cabinet of Lucas Papademos|new coalition cabinet]] and Prime Minister Lucas Papademos were formally sworn in on 11 November 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Greek govt takes over, former banker at helm|url=http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-11-11-EU-Greece-Financial-Crisis/id-98805fa6da654460a141ba38be2d63e7|agency=Associated Press|access-date=11 November 2011|date=11 November 2011|archive-date=4 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104033035/http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-11-11-EU-Greece-Financial-Crisis/id-98805fa6da654460a141ba38be2d63e7|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Comeback aspirations==
In August 2012, Papandreou was re-elected president of the [[Socialist International]] at its congress in [[Cape Town]].<ref>{{cite web|title=XXIV Congress of the Socialist International, Cape Town|url=http://socialistinternational.org/viewArticle.cfm?ArticleID=2179|publisher=[[Socialist International]]|access-date=2 September 2012|archive-date=2 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902204254/http://www.socialistinternational.org/viewArticle.cfm?ArticleID=2179|url-status=live}}</ref> Within domestic politics, he however remained largely sidelined within PASOK, while still an ordinary [[Hellenic Parliament|Member of the Hellenic Parliament]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-greece-politics-idUSKBN0KB0VD20150102|title=Former Greek PM Papandreou sets up new party, complicating election outlook|work=[[Reuters]]|last=MacKenzie|first=James|date=2 January 2015|access-date=3 January 2015|archive-date=21 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721000123/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-greece-politics-idUSKBN0KB0VD20150102|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 2 January 2015, Papandreou announced his aspirations to return to high-profile domestic politics. Launching his new party [[Movement of Democratic Socialists]] to contest the [[January 2015 Greek parliamentary election|25 January 2015 parliamentary elections]], he confirmed the long-expected breakup with PASOK.<ref name=wsj2jan>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/papandreous-return-to-politics-adds-a-wild-card-to-greek-election-1420224555|title=Papandreou's Return to Greek Politics Adds New Wild Card to Election|last=Stamouli|first=Nektaria|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=2 January 2015|access-date=3 January 2015|archive-date=29 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729033447/https://www.wsj.com/articles/papandreous-return-to-politics-adds-a-wild-card-to-greek-election-1420224555|url-status=live}}</ref>

While his decision was fiercely criticized by PASOK officials,<ref name=wsj2jan /> Papandreou referred to the extraordinary situation with the country facing important challenges amidst a highly polarized political situation. He said that under these circumstances he "needed to make a bold political choice. PASOK, the party I belonged to since my youth, and led for many years, had become assimilated into conservative practices and policies."<ref>{{cite web|first=George|last=Papandreou|title=A Note on Greek Elections and Our New Movement (KINIMA)|website=[[HuffPost]]|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-papandreou/a-note-on-greek-elections_b_6542930.html|date=25 January 2015|access-date=10 February 2015|archive-date=10 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210015443/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-papandreou/a-note-on-greek-elections_b_6542930.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Receiving only 2.46% of the electoral vote, Papandreou's new party however fell short of the 3% [[electoral threshold]]. His failure to be reelected marks the first time since 1923 where a representative of the [[List of political families in Greece#P|Papandreou political dynasty]] is not present in the [[Hellenic Parliament]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Philip|last=Chrysopoulos|title=Papandreou Name Out of Parliament After 92 Years|publisher=[[Greek Reporter]]|url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/01/26/papandreou-name-out-of-parliament-after-92-years/|date=26 January 2015|access-date=10 February 2015|language=el|archive-date=10 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210020754/http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/01/26/papandreou-name-out-of-parliament-after-92-years/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the election he said in a [[Newsnight|BBC Newsnight]] interview that his conscience was clear: "I was able to save Greece from default."<ref>{{cite web|title=Ex Greek PM tells Newsnight: 'My conscience is clear'|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31022170|date=28 January 2015|access-date=10 February 2015|archive-date=31 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131200326/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31022170|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2017, at the Congress of the Socialist International that took place in Cartagena, Colombia, Papandreou was unanimously re-elected president of the organization.

He is also co-chair of the [[Democratic Alignment (2015)|Democratic Alignment]], a coalition of the center left parties in Greece, composed by the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), the Democratic Left (DIMAR) and the Movement of Democratic Socialists.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/01/13/former-greek-pm-papandreou-merges-kidiso-with-the-democratic-alignment|title=Former Greek PM Papandreou Joins Democratic Alignment|newspaper=Greekreporter.com |date=13 January 2017|publisher=Greek Reporter|access-date=8 June 2017|archive-date=14 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114184137/http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/01/13/former-greek-pm-papandreou-merges-kidiso-with-the-democratic-alignment/|url-status=live|last1=Kolasa-Sikiaridi |first1=Kerry }}</ref>

In May 2017, Papandreou delivered the keynote speech to the [[European Association of Political Consultants]] (EAPC) in Brussels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eapcevents.com/speakers|title=EAPC Brussels speakers|publisher=EAPC|access-date=8 June 2017|archive-date=2 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602051453/http://eapcevents.com/speakers|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.eu/pro/newsletter/brussels-influence/politico-pro-brussels-influence-helping-the-pols-brussels-best-lobbyists-chemical-burn/|title=Pro Brussels Influence: Helping the pols|work=Politico |date=31 May 2017 |access-date=8 June 2017|archive-date=16 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016110730/http://www.politico.eu/pro/newsletter/brussels-influence/politico-pro-brussels-influence-helping-the-pols-brussels-best-lobbyists-chemical-burn/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 20 October 2021, Papandreou announced his candidacy for the leadership of [[PASOK – Movement for Change|Movement for Change (Greece)]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1170242/former-premier-george-papandreou-joins-kinal-leadership-race/ |title=Former premier George Papandreou joins KINAL leadership race &#124; eKathimerini.com |access-date=20 October 2021 |archive-date=20 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020231400/https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1170242/former-premier-george-papandreou-joins-kinal-leadership-race/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:2010-10-03-quadriga-by-RalfR-030.jpg|thumb|Papandreou and his then-wife attend the [[Quadriga (award)|Quadriga]] Award 2010 ceremony on 3 October 2010 in Berlin.]]
George Papandreou was married to Ada Papapanou, until 2016, and they have a daughter, Margarita-Elena (born 1990).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.papandreou.gr/papandreou/content/Document.aspx?d=6&rd=7739474&f=1344&rf=1551024929&m=4553&rm=6262620&l=1|title=/ George A. Papandreou: Personal Site|publisher=Papandreou|access-date=4 November 2011|archive-date=16 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116212835/http://www.papandreou.gr/papandreou/content/Document.aspx?d=6&rd=7739474&f=1344&rf=1551024929&m=4553&rm=6262620&l=1|url-status=live}}</ref> He also has a son, Andreas (born 1982), from a previous civil wedding to Evanthia Zissimides (1976–1987), who is from [[Cyprus]].{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}
 	
He has two younger brothers, [[Nikos Papandreou]] and Andreas Papandreou, and two younger sisters, Sophia Papandreou and Emilia Nyblom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/1.2613176/hon-ar-papandreous-okanda-svenska-syster|title=Hon är Papandreous okända svenska syster | trans-title=She is Papandreou's unknown Swedish sister)|work=Expressen|date=26 September 2011|access-date=6 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107162339/http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/1.2613176/hon-ar-papandreous-okanda-svenska-syster|archive-date=7 November 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	
Apart from Greek and English, he is also fluent in [[Swedish language|Swedish]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.papandreou.gr/papandreou/content/Document.aspx?d=6&rd=7739474&f=1344&rf=1551024929&m=4553&rm=6262620&l=1|title=George A. Papandreou: Personal Site|publisher=Papandreou|access-date=6 November 2011|archive-date=16 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116212835/http://www.papandreou.gr/papandreou/content/Document.aspx?d=6&rd=7739474&f=1344&rf=1551024929&m=4553&rm=6262620&l=1|url-status=live}}</ref> One of his paternal great-grandfathers, [[Zygmunt Mineyko]], was an army officer and an engineer of [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Polish-Lithuanian]] descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://greeceinfo.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/pms-george-papandreou-visit-to-poland/|title=PM's George Papandreou visit to Poland|date=11 April 2011|publisher=Embassy of Greece in Poland Press and Communication Office|access-date=14 November 2011|archive-date=25 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425151532/http://greeceinfo.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/pms-george-papandreou-visit-to-poland/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pages.interlog.com/~mineykok/zdrada.html |title=Zygmunt Mineyko (1840–1925) and George Papandreou as family in Greece |access-date=3 March 2020 |archive-date=30 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130113313/http://pages.interlog.com/~mineykok/zdrada.html |url-status=live }}</ref><!-- is it relevant for English wiki?-->

In 2016, Papandreou co-signed a letter to [[Ban Ki-moon]] calling for a more humane drug policy, along with people like [[Glenn Greenwald]], [[Olusegun Obasanjo]] and [[Anthony D. Romero]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Public Letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon|url=https://drugpolicy.org/ungass2016|access-date=4 August 2021|website=Drug Policy Alliance|language=en|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804133835/https://drugpolicy.org/ungass2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Honours and decorations==
* 1996: Commander of the [[Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise]] (Ukraine)	
* 1996: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Lion of Finland|Order of the Lion]] (Finland)	
* 1996: [[Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland]] II class (Poland)
* 1998: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Civil Merit]] (Spain)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1998/05/23/pdfs/A17240-17240.pdf  |title=17240 |date=23 May 1998 |website=[[Boletín Oficial del Estado]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129084550/https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1998/05/23/pdfs/A17240-17240.pdf |archive-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
* 1999: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Polar Star]] (Sweden)
* 1999: [[Order of the White Star]] I class (Estonia)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.ee/en/estonia/decorations/bearer/3295/george-a-papandreou|title=Vabariigi President|website=president.ee|access-date=23 August 2019|archive-date=23 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823014952/https://www.president.ee/en/estonia/decorations/bearer/3295/george-a-papandreou|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1999: Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash of the [[Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/VHG/XXIV/AB/AB_10542/imfname_251156.pdf |title=Anfragebeantwortung |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108060130/https://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/VHG/XXIV/AB/AB_10542/imfname_251156.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2017}}</ref>
* 2000: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]	
* 2001: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Isabella the Catholic]] (Spain)	
* 2001: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Crown (Belgium)|Order of the Crown]] (Belgium)	
* 2002: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Prince Henry|Order of Infante dom Henrique]] (Portugal){{Citation needed|date=August 2019}}
* 2002: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Pope Pius IX]] (Vatican)
* 2003: Grand Commander of the [[Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary]]
* 2003: Knight Grand Cross of the [[Hungarian Order of Merit|Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/132628|title=Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana|website=quirinale.it|access-date=23 August 2019|archive-date=23 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823014951/https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/132628|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2003: Gran Cruz [[Order of the Sun of Peru]] (Peru)

==Awards==
* 1988: " Botsis's Foundation for the Promotion of Journalism " award for "his multifaceted struggles, which established the Free Radio as part of our democratic institutions"	
* 1996: SOS against anti-Semitism, and affiliated organizations" Committee award, for his work against anti-Semitism	
* 1997: Abdi Ipekci special award for Peace and Friendship ( June 1997) "for his activities in favor of Greek-Turkish approach during the period 1995–1996 while serving as Minister of National Education and Religion"	
* 2000: [[Eastwest Institute]] 2000 Awards – Peace Building Awards . The 2000 "Statesman of the Year Award" given to Foreign Minister George Papandreou of Greece and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem of Turkey for their great efforts at improving relations between their respective countries	
* 2002: Jackie Robinson Humanitarian Award (United States Sport Academy)	
* 2003: Recipient: Defender of Democracy (Parliamentarians for Global Action)
* 2006: Open Fields Award (Truce Foundation USA)	
* 2010: [[Quadriga (award)|Quadriga Award]] (Werkstatt Deutschland, Germany), for The Power of Veracity (transparency regarding the state of the Greek economy)

==See also==
* [[Politics of Greece]]
* [[List of prime ministers of Greece]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|George Papandreou}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://www.ted.com/talks/george_papandreou_imagine_a_european_democracy_without_borders ''George Papandreou: Imagine a European democracy without borders''] June 2013 [[TED Talk]]
* {{Hellenic Parliament|629183a8-485e-4ef8-9c70-2be0d6ac0f0e}}

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{{Heads of government of Greece}}
{{Leaders of the Opposition of Greece}}
{{Foreign Ministers of Greece}}
{{Leaders of PASOK}}
{{Andreas Papandreou}}
{{Social democracy in Greece}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Papandreou, George}}
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