Wednesday, November 18 at 2pm EST

Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos
Greek Minister of National Defense

Minister Panagiotopoulos was born in 1965 in Kavala. He graduated with Honors from Athens College in 1984, and went on to study Economics and International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania (1984-1988) and Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1988-1992). Attended courses at the Université de Technologie de Compiègne in France, working on his dissertation on the Economics of the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU (summer 1988). Minister Panagiotopoulos completed his mandatory military service in the Hellenic Air Force (1990-1992). He was employed in the private sector as International Marketing Director at “Marmara Kavalas SA” (marble quarrying, manufacturing and exporting company in Kavala, Northern Greece) (1992-1999). Practiced Criminal Law in Kavala (1999-2007). He was elected as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament with “N.D.” in the district of Kavala at 2007, 2009, May 2012, June 2012, January 2015, September 2015 and July 2019. He was a Member of the Parliamentary Committees of Commerce (2007-2009), Greek Diaspora (2007-2012), Defense and Foreign Affairs (2009-2012 and 2013-2015), Social Affairs (2015-2017), Justice, Public Order and Public Administration (2017-present) and Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity (2012-2013). He was appointed “N.D.” Party Coordinator/Shadow Minister for Defense (2012), Social Affairs (2015-2016) and Justice (2016-present). Minister Panagiotopoulos was appointed “N.D.” member of the Special Parliamentary Committees investigating the affair of the Hellenic Navy submarines purchase (2011) and the “Novartis” pharmaceuticals investigation of the involvement of government officials (2018). Appointed “N.D.” member of the Parliamentary Committee for the Revision of the Constitution (Jan-Apr 2018). He is fluent in English and French, and has a working knowledge of Italian and Spanish. Minister Panagiotopoulos is married to Anastasia Angelidou. An avid sportsman, he represented Greece with the Junior National Water Polo Team in 1981-1982. He enjoys reading, basketball, skiing and swimming in his spare time.