Births on March 21

Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Greek politician

Dimitrios Papadimoulis (Greek: Δημήτρης Παπαδημούλης), a prominent figure in Greek and European politics, was born on March 21, 1955. A dedicated member of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL) political group, he serves as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and has distinguished himself through his consistent leadership within the institution.

His influence within the European Parliament is particularly notable. On January 18, 2022, Papadimoulis was overwhelmingly re-elected as Vice-President of the European Parliament for an impressive fourth consecutive term. This significant achievement was backed by broad cross-party support, securing 492 positive votes out of 658 valid ballots, translating to a remarkable 74.77% share of the vote. Since 2014, he has been not only the sole Greek representative but also the only member from the GUE-NGL political group to hold a position on the Presidium of the European Parliament, underscoring his unique standing and trust among his peers.

Independent analyses consistently highlight his impact. According to VoteWatch.EU, a leading independent platform monitoring the activities of the European Parliament, Dimitrios Papadimoulis is recognized as the most influential Greek MEP. In 2020, his influence gained even wider recognition when he was ranked 9th among the Top 10 most influential MEPs across the entire 705-member Parliament, representing 27 Member States. Within his own political group, the European United Left / Nordic Green Left, and among all Greek MEPs, he consistently holds the top position for influence and activity.

Early Life, Education, and Political Awakening

Born in Athens in 1955, Dimitrios Papadimoulis embarked on a path of academic excellence from a young age. He graduated with distinction from the prestigious Varvakeio Junior High School of Athens before pursuing higher education with a scholarship at the School of Civil Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Upon completing his studies, he worked as an engineer and business executive from 1980 to 2004, gaining practical experience that would later inform his policy work.

However, his commitment to public service and the left movement began much earlier. From the age of 18, during his student days, Papadimoulis actively participated in and dedicated himself to the left movement, a commitment he has maintained throughout his life. This early activism laid the groundwork for his extensive political career.

A Trajectory Through Greek Left Politics

Papadimoulis's political journey saw him rise through the ranks of various influential left-wing organizations in Greece. He was a member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the National Student Union of Greece from 1976 to 1979. His dedication led him to leadership roles within the communist youth organization "Rigas Feraios" and subsequently within the "Greek Communist Party of the Interior" (a Eurocommunist party) and the political party E.AR ("Greek Left").

A pivotal moment in Greek left politics saw him as a member of the Joint Committee that prepared the common report between E.AR and the Communist Party of Greece in 1988, an initiative that ultimately led to the formation of the Coalition of the Left. He became an integral member of the elected leading bodies of the Coalition of the Left from its formation as a unified party in 1992, and later, of SYRIZA, the Coalition of the Radical Left, as it evolved into a dominant force in Greek politics.

Distinguished Career in Parliament and European Leadership

Dimitrios Papadimoulis first entered the European Parliament for the term 2004-2009, making an early mark on the European stage. Following this, he was elected to the Greek Parliament, serving from 2009 to 2014. During this period, he also served as a Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and as Vice-President of the Group of the Unified European Left (UEL).

In 2014, he was re-elected as an MEP in the European elections. His continued influence within SYRIZA was clear when, at the suggestion of then-Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, he was unanimously elected head of the SYRIZA delegation at the European Parliament. That same year, in July 2014, his leadership qualities were recognized by his European peers as he was first elected Vice-President of the European Parliament with 42.1% of positive votes. He further solidified this position, being re-elected Vice-President in January 2017 with an even stronger mandate, garnering 73.5% of positive votes.

The Parliamentary Evaluation Report for the 2014-2019 term, published by "VoteWatch Europe," reiterated his status, evaluating Dimitris Papadimoulis as the Greek MEP with the most significant influence on European Institutions. His consistent activity was also noted in an earlier VoteWatch.EU report, where he was identified as one of the three most active MEPs in the entire European Parliament during the 2004-2009 period.

Since 2019, Papadimoulis has continued his tenure as a Member of the European Parliament, having been elected first with the highest number of votes among the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance MEPs (272,835 votes). He remains the Head of the SYRIZA delegation at the EP and serves as a Vice-President of the European Parliament, securing this position with 60.5% of the vote.

Current Committee Responsibilities

In his current role, Dimitrios Papadimoulis is a full member of two crucial committees within the European Parliament: the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and the Committee on Budgets (BUDG). His expertise also extends to the Committee on Regional Development (REGI), where he serves as a substitute member. These roles place him at the heart of key decision-making processes concerning the European Union's economic stability, financial planning, and regional cohesion.

FAQs about Dimitrios Papadimoulis

Who is Dimitrios Papadimoulis?

Dimitrios Papadimoulis is a Greek politician and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2004 (with a break for national parliament service), representing the European United Left-Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL) political group. He is also a long-serving Vice-President of the European Parliament.

When was he born?

He was born on March 21, 1955.

What is his political affiliation?

He is a member of SYRIZA (the Coalition of the Radical Left) in Greece, and within the European Parliament, he is part of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL) political group.

What significant roles does he hold in the European Parliament?

He has been re-elected as Vice-President of the European Parliament for four consecutive terms. Since 2014, he has been the only Greek representative and the only member of the GUE-NGL group on the Presidium of the European Parliament. He is also a full member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and the Committee on Budgets (BUDG).

Why is he considered influential?

VoteWatch.EU consistently ranks him as the most influential Greek MEP and has included him among the Top 10 most influential MEPs in the entire European Parliament, often ranking him first within his political group and among Greek MEPs.