Akis Tsochatzopoulos

Greek politician, minister

Apostolos Tsochatzopoulos (31 July 1939 – 27 August 2021), commonly known by Akis, was a Greek politician and convicted criminal. He was a member and founder of the PASOK Party. He was a member of the Hellenic Parliament from 1981 until 2007. Tsochatzopoulos was born in Athens, Greece however he was raised in Thessaloniki.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos
Member of the Hellenic Parliament
In office
1981–2007
Minister of National Defence
In office
24 September 1996 – 23 October 2001
Prime MinisterKonstantinos Simitis
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byYiannos Papantoniou
Minister of the Interior
In office
15 September 1995 – 30 August 1996
Prime MinisterAndreas Papandreou
Konstantinos Simitis
Preceded byKostas Skandalidis
Succeeded byVassilios Skouris
In office
13 October 1993 – 8 July 1994
Prime MinisterAndreas Papandreou
Preceded byIoannis Georgakis
Succeeded byKostas Skandalidis
In office
23 September 1987 – 2 June 1989
Prime MinisterAndreas Papandreou
Preceded byEmmanouil Papastefanakis
Succeeded byPanagiotis Markopoulos
Personal details
Born
Apostolos-Athanasios Tsochatzopoulos

(1939-07-31)31 July 1939
Athens, Greece
Died27 August 2021(2021-08-27) (aged 82)
Athens, Greece
Political partyPASOK
Spouse(s)
Vicky Stamatis (m. 2004)
EducationTechnical University of Munich
OccupationEconomist, engineer, politician

From 1987 until 1989 and from 1993 until 1995, he was the Minister of the Interior. He was also the first Minister for National Defence from 1996 until 2001. In 1996, he narrowly lost the PASOK leadership election to become prime minister to Costas Simitis.

During his time in parliament, Tsochatzopoulos was accused of corruption many times.[1] In April 2012, he was arrested for money laundering.[2] In October 2013, he was found guilty and sent to 20 years in prison.[3] He was released early in July 2018 because of heart problems.[4]

Tsochatzopoulos died on 27 August 2021 at a hospital in Athens from a heart attack, aged 82.[5]

References change

  1. Εκτός ΠΑΣΟΚ ο Άκης Τσοχατζόπουλος (in Greek). www.enet.gr. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  2. "Ex defense minister arrested". Kathimerini. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  3. "Ένοχοι για όλες τις κατηγορίες Τσοχατζόπουλος, Σταμάτη και άλλοι 15 κατηγορούμενοι (upd)". skai.gr. Archived from the original on 2019-01-03. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  4. "Former socialist defense minister Tsochatzopoulos in hospital | Kathimerini". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  5. Former Greek Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos Dies at 82