Andreas Georgiou Papandreou was born on 5 February 1919 on the Greek island of Chios, the son of Georgios Papandreou, a prominent politician. In 1938, he left Greece for the United States to escape the dictatorship of Ioannis Metaxas. He pursued an academic career, earning a PhD in economics from Harvard University in 1943. After serving in the US Navy during World War II, he returned to academia, eventually becoming a professor at the University of California, Berkeley.In 1959, Papandreou returned to Greece at the urging of his father, who was then Prime Minister. He became involved in politics, initially as an economic advisor and later as a member of the Greek Parliament. His political career was marked by a shift from progressive liberalism to a more populist rhetoric, which resonated with the public amid the political instability following the Greek Civil War. His outspoken criticism of the monarchy and American influence in Greece contributed to tensions that culminated in the 1967 military coup, after which he was exiled.During his exile, Papandreou developed an anti-American narrative and founded the Panhellenic Liberation Movement (PAK) to oppose the junta. He returned to Greece in 1974 after the fall of the military regime and established the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), positioning it as a radical alternative to the existing political parties. In the 1981 elections, PASOK won a landslide victory, making Papandreou Greece's first socialist prime minister. His government implemented significant social reforms, including expanding access to education and healthcare, enhancing workers' rights, and recognizing the contributions of communist resistance groups during World War II.However, his administration faced challenges, including the Koskotas scandal, which led to PASOK's loss of power in the 1989 elections. Papandreou was acquitted of charges related to the scandal in 1992. He returned to power in 1993, but his second term was marred by corruption allegations, a controversial divorce, and a perceived decline in democratic norms. His economic policies, characterized by extensive public spending and patronage, led to significant national debt and economic instability, with Greece being labeled as Europe's 'black sheep.' Papandreou resigned in January 1996 due to health issues and died on 23 June 1996.Throughout his political career, Papandreou's populist approach and social policies transformed Greece's political landscape, fostering greater political participation and social inclusion. However, his legacy is complicated by economic mismanagement and corruption scandals that plagued his administrations.

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Andreas Papandreou