Former Minister George Souflias, who had been facing health issues in recent years, has passed away at the age of 85.
He was born on July 7, 1941, in Agia Triada, Farsala, Thessaly. He held a degree in civil engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and practiced as an engineer in Larissa before becoming actively involved in politics.
His political career began with the transition to democracy, when he was first elected as a member of parliament for Larissa with the New Democracy party in the 1974 elections. He was re-elected repeatedly and held a series of government posts, initially as Deputy Minister of the Interior and later as Deputy Minister of Coordination in the governments of Konstantinos Karamanlis and Giorgos Rallis.
From 1989 to 1993, he served as Minister of National Economy, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Education and Religious Affairs.
In 1997, he ran for the leadership of New Democracy but was not elected. A year later, he was expelled from the party due to internal disputes, but was readmitted in 2001.
Perhaps his most significant government post was as Minister of the Environment, Spatial Planning, and Public Works (YPEHODE) from 2004 to 2009 in the governments of Kostas Karamanlis. During this period, he was associated with major infrastructure projects and initiatives in the fields of transportation, highways, and spatial planning policy.
Following the 2009 parliamentary elections, he announced his retirement from active politics, even though he had been elected as a national MP, stating that he had completed his political cycle after approximately 35 years in parliament.
Tasoulas: A man of firm convictions has passed away
It is with the deepest sorrow that I learned of the passing of George Souflias, a distinguished politician who served his country in key positions of responsibility with integrity, efficiency, determination, and moderation, states the President of the Republic.
He was a man of firm convictions who always placed duty and national unity as his top priority. I extend my condolences to his family and friends.