Karamanlis, << kahr uh MAHN lees, >> Konstantinos (1907-1998), was a Greek political leader. He served as prime minister of Greece from 1955 to 1963 and from 1974 to 1980. He was president of Greece from 1980 to 1985 and from 1990 to 1995. The prime minister heads the government. The president has less involvement in government operations than does the prime minister. During Karamanlis’s terms as prime minister, Greece maintained close ties with the United States. His first term as prime minister was a period of political stability that brought much economic development to Greece.
Karamanlis was born on March 8, 1907, in Prote, near Serrai, and received a law degree from Athens University in 1932. He won election to the Greek parliament in every election from 1935 to 1963.
In 1963, following a minor dispute with King Paul of Greece, Karamanlis resigned as prime minister. He went into voluntary exile after his political party lost the election that year. He returned from exile and became prime minister in 1974 after Greek military leaders asked him to form a civilian government. The military government had resigned following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. In 1980, Karamanlis resigned as prime minister and was elected president. He resigned in 1985. He served again as president from 1990 to 1995. He died on April 23, 1998. In 2004, his nephew Kostas Karamanlis became prime minister.
