Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EOKA leader) as president. Consequently, mainland Turkey sent in troops until they oc-
cupied northern Cyprus, partitioning the country and displacing almost 200,000 Greek
Cypriots who fled their homes for the safety of the south (reportedly more than 1500
Cypriots remain missing).
The junta dictatorship collapsed. Karamanlis was summoned from Paris to take office
and his New Democracy (ND) party won a large majority at the November elections in
1974 against the newly formed Panhellenic Socialist Union (PASOK), led by Andreas
Papandreou (son of Georgios). A plebiscite voted 69% against the restoration of the
monarchy and the ban on communist parties was lifted. (The exiled former royal family
still lives in London, where it continues to use its royal titles. A dispute between the
former king, Constantine, and the government over the family's assets was settled in
2002 and the royal family members now often return to Greece as private citizens.)
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was part of the Greek royal family - born on Corfu
as Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark in 1921. Former king of Greece, Constantine, is
Prince William's godfather and Prince Charles' third cousin.
The 1980s & 1990s
When Greece became the 10th member of the EU in 1981, it was the smallest and
poorest member. In October 1981, Andreas Papandreou's PASOK party was elected as
Greece's first socialist government. PASOK ruled for almost two decades (except for
1990-93). PASOK promised ambitious social reform, to close the US air bases and to
withdraw from NATO. US military presence was reduced, but unemployment was high
and reforms in education and welfare were limited. Women's issues fared better: the
dowry system was abolished, abortion legalised, and civil marriage and divorce were im-
plemented.
Economic scandal, a series of general strikes and fundamental policy wrangling over
the country's education system damaged PASOK, and in 1990 Konstandinos Mitsotakis
led the ND back to office. Intent on redressing the country's economic problems - high
inflation and high government spending - the government imposed austerity measures,
including a wage freeze for civil servants and steep increases in public-utility costs and
basic services.
By late 1992 corruption allegations were being levelled against the government. By
mid-1993 Mitsotakis supporters had abandoned the ND for the new Political Spring
party; the ND lost its parliamentary majority and an early election in October returned
Andreas Papandreou's PASOK party.
