Alexis Tsipras: From teen revolutionary to youngest PM in over a century
First entry: 26 January 2015 - 12:26 Athens, 10:26 GMT
Last update: 12:26 Athens, 10:26 GMTElections 2015
Alexis Tsipras, the youngest prime minister-elect of Greece since 1865, has secured a comprehensive victory against its political opponent, outgoing PM Antonis Samaras and his party New Democracy. But just who is he and what does he represent?
Tsipras was born in an Athens suburb in July 1974, a fateful year for Greece. It marked the collapse of a seven-year army dictatorship that mercilessly persecuted leftists and Communists, and culminated in a bloody crackdown against a student uprising.
He joined the Young Communists Society in the 1980s and by 1991 at the age of 17 organised the occupation of his high school in protest at education reforms. His first brush with fame came in that time, when he famously told a TV interviewer: "We want the right to judge for ourselves whether to skip class."
He went on to university to study to become a civil engineer, where he continued his political rise.
In 2008 at the age of 34 he became the leader of the Syriza party, which was formed in 2004 as a coalition of left-wing groups ranging from the Maoists to the Greens.
Hailed for his no fear, firebrand approach and commitment to an anti-austerity agenda, he led the party to take a 27 pct vote share in the 2012 general election, making Syriza the second biggest party in the Greek parliament.
He doesn't like ties. When asked about it recently, he replied again with a definitive "No": "After all," he has joked, "I didn’t wear one to see the pope."
Ahead of the 2012 election his predilection for motorbikes, rather than the limos favoured by other party leaders, was much-discussed. However, it has been noted that he is more likely seen in the family car these days.
Tsipras also has two young sons with his partner Peristera Batziana, his high-school sweetheart. His passion for the revolutionary Che Guevara is reflected in his personal life as he gave his youngest son the middle name Ernesto.
Critics have described him as "power-hungry", suggesting he would sacrifice Greece for his own political ambitions.
In the last few years, Tsipras has promised to raise salaries and pensions, halt layoffs and freeze the privatisation of state assets while at the same time he sought to boost his international standing meeting Pope Francis and the European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi, as well as writing columns in international newspapers, including the Financial Times.
He is a fan of Panathinaikos football club.
Source: Sky News, AFP
Tsipras was born in an Athens suburb in July 1974, a fateful year for Greece. It marked the collapse of a seven-year army dictatorship that mercilessly persecuted leftists and Communists, and culminated in a bloody crackdown against a student uprising.
He joined the Young Communists Society in the 1980s and by 1991 at the age of 17 organised the occupation of his high school in protest at education reforms. His first brush with fame came in that time, when he famously told a TV interviewer: "We want the right to judge for ourselves whether to skip class."
He went on to university to study to become a civil engineer, where he continued his political rise.
Hailed for his no fear, firebrand approach and commitment to an anti-austerity agenda, he led the party to take a 27 pct vote share in the 2012 general election, making Syriza the second biggest party in the Greek parliament.
He doesn't like ties. When asked about it recently, he replied again with a definitive "No": "After all," he has joked, "I didn’t wear one to see the pope."
Ahead of the 2012 election his predilection for motorbikes, rather than the limos favoured by other party leaders, was much-discussed. However, it has been noted that he is more likely seen in the family car these days.
Tsipras also has two young sons with his partner Peristera Batziana, his high-school sweetheart. His passion for the revolutionary Che Guevara is reflected in his personal life as he gave his youngest son the middle name Ernesto.
In the last few years, Tsipras has promised to raise salaries and pensions, halt layoffs and freeze the privatisation of state assets while at the same time he sought to boost his international standing meeting Pope Francis and the European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi, as well as writing columns in international newspapers, including the Financial Times.
He is a fan of Panathinaikos football club.
Source: Sky News, AFP
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