George Papandreou served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2009 to 2011, during one of the most challenging periods in the country’s modern history. His government managed the Greek debt crisis, negotiating financial assistance packages with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. At the same time, he introduced reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability and public sector efficiency, while working to restore Greece’s credibility within the Eurozone. His tenure was marked by efforts to balance fiscal consolidation with the protection of democratic legitimacy and citizen participation in difficult policy decisions.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Papandreou served as Foreign Minister from 1999 to 2004. In that role, he played a key part in advancing stability and cooperation in the Balkans and in improving relations between Greece and Turkey. He also served as Minister of Education and held several other government positions after first being elected to the Greek Parliament in 1981. As President of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), he pursued internal party reforms to modernise its structure and decision-making processes.
Papandreou is President of the Socialist International and a Member of Club de Madrid, both of which bring together former heads of state and government to strengthen democratic governance worldwide. He also serves as General Rapporteur for Democracy at the Council of Europe, focusing on democratic innovation, citizen engagement and institutional trust.