Konstantinos Karamanlis

Karamanlis founded the National Radical Union (ERE), a conservative political party. The party dominated Greek politics for the next decade, implementing economic development programs and pursuing NATO integration.

Karamanlis signed the London and Zurich Agreements, which established the independence of Cyprus as a bi-communal republic. The agreements were controversial but ended the Cyprus Emergency and created the modern Cypriot state.

After losing the 1963 elections, Karamanlis went into self-imposed exile in Paris. He remained there for 11 years, refusing to participate in Greek politics during the military junta, maintaining his distance from the dictatorship.

After the fall of the junta, Karamanlis returned from exile to lead the transition to democracy. He formed a national unity government, legalized political parties, and called elections, restoring democratic institutions in Greece.

Karamanlis held a referendum on the monarchy, which resulted in its abolition and the establishment of the Third Hellenic Republic. He then became the first President of the new republic, serving from 1980 to 1985.

Karamanlis successfully negotiated Greece's accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), which was finalized in 1981. This integration anchored Greece in Western Europe and provided economic and political benefits.