Panagis Tsaldaris (1868-1936) (or Panagiotis Tsaldaris or Panayotis Tsaldaris, Greek: Παναγής Τσαλδάρης) was a revered conservative politician and leader for many years (1922-1936) of the dominant before the World War II People's Party. Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... The Peoples Party of Greece (Laiko Komma or Laikon Komma) was a conservative political party founded by Dimitrios Gounaris, the main political rival of Eleftherios Venizelos and his Liberal Party. ...

Early life

Studies

Tsaldaris was born in 1868 in the town Kamari of Corinth in Peloponnesus. He studied in the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and, being an excellent student, he continued his studies abroad, in Berlin, Paris etc. 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Corinth, or Korinth (Κόρινθος; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a Greek city, on the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. ... Peloponnesos (Greek: Πελοπόννησος, sometime Latinized as Peloponnesus or Anglicized as The Peloponnese) is a large peninsula in Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Isthmus of Corinth. ... // A law school is an institution where future lawyers obtain legal degrees. ... The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greek: Εθνικόν και Καποδιστριακόν Πανεπιστήμιον Αθηνών), usually referred to simply as the University of Athens, is the oldest university in the region of the eastern Mediterranean and has been in continuous operation since its establishment in 1837. ... Berlin is the capital city and a single state of the Federal Republic of Germany. ... The Eiffel Tower, the international symbol of the city, with the skyscrapers of La Défense business district 5 km/ 3 mi behind. ...

After he returned in Greece, he worked as a lawyer. Because of his thoroughness and his profound consultatory responses, he gained the respect of his colleagues and of all the law experts. A lawyer is a person qualified to give legal advice who advises clients in legal matters and represents them in courts of law and in other forms of dispute resolution. ...

Personal life

In 1919 Tsaldaris he got married with the daughter of the professor of university Spyridon Lambrou, Lina Tsaldaris, who stood by him during all his life and remained politically active, even after her husband's death.

Entering politics

Tsaldaris entered politics in 1910, when he was elected for the first time deputy in the Parliament in Corinth. He would remain a Greek deputy until his death in 1936. In 1915, he took the part of King Constantine I in the latter's conflict with Eleftherios Venizelos and he became minister of Justice in Dimitrios Gounaris's government.
Nonetheless, after the return of Venizelos and the self-exile of the King, Panagis Tsaldaris was imprisoned and then exiled in various islands of the Aegean Sea (1917-1920).-1... The Hellenic Parliament (Greek: Βουλή των Ελλήνων; transliterated Vouli ton Ellinon; literally Council of the Greeks) is the parliament of Greece, located in Syntagma Square in Athens. ... Corinth, or Korinth (Κόρινθος; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a Greek city, on the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Constantine I, King of the Hellenes (2 August 1868 - 11 January 1923), ruled Greece from 1913-1917 and from 1920-1922. ... Eleftherios Venizelos (1864-1936), Greek statesman and diplomat. ... Categories: Historical stubs | 1866 births | 1922 deaths | Prime Ministers of Greece ... The Aegean Sea. ...

After the legislative elections of 1920, which resulted in an unexpected victory for the People's Party, Tsaldaris served in the governments of Dimitrios Rallis and Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos as Interior minister and minister of public transports. In the government of Dimitrios Gounaris he served once again as minister of public transports. The legislative elections of 1920 were one of the most crucial elections in modern history of Greece. ... The Peoples Party of Greece (Laiko Komma or Laikon Komma) was a conservative political party founded by Dimitrios Gounaris, the main political rival of Eleftherios Venizelos and his Liberal Party. ... Categories: Historical stubs | 1866 births | 1922 deaths | Prime Ministers of Greece ...

Leader of the People's Party

Panagis Tsaldaris

After the execution of the People's Party's leader, Dimitrios Gounaris, Tsaldaris was elected by the party members as their leader in 1922. In the elections of 1923 the party didn't take part and Tsaldaris protested against the persecutions of right-wing politicians. In the plebiscite of 1924, he supported King George II.
During the Pangalos's dictatorship, Tsaldaris fought along with other politicians against the military regime of the army general.
After the elections of 1926, Tsaldaris participated in the government of national unity of Alexandros Zaimis (as minister of National Economy, of Education and of Interior Affairs0, but he submitted his resignation in the August of 1927, because of a disagreement concerning the currency policy of the government. The Peoples Party of Greece (Laiko Komma or Laikon Komma) was a conservative political party founded by Dimitrios Gounaris, the main political rival of Eleftherios Venizelos and his Liberal Party. ... Categories: Historical stubs | 1866 births | 1922 deaths | Prime Ministers of Greece ... 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... George II (20 July 1890 - 1 April 1947), King of the Hellenes (Greece) ruled from 1922-1924 and 1935-1947. ... General Pangalos (1920) Theodoros Pangalos (Greek Θεόδωρος Πάγκαλος) (Born 1878, Salamina, Greece; died 1952, Athens, Greece) was a Greek general who briefly ruled the country in 1925 and 1926. ... Alexandros Zaimis (1855 - 1936) was a Greek political figure. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

During the 1928-1932 dominance of the Fileleftheron Komma (Liberal Party) and of his leader, Eleftherios Venizelos, Panagis Tsaldaris exerted a robust opposition as the leader of the second biggest party in the Greek Parliament.
In 1932, he turned down Venizelos' proposition to lead a government of national unity. Komma Fileleftheron (Greek: Κόμμα Φιλελευθέρων - literally Party of the Friends of Liberty; usually translated as Liberal Party) was one of the major Greek political parties of the early 20th Century. ... Eleftherios Venizelos (1864-1936), Greek statesman and diplomat. ... The Hellenic Parliament (Greek: Βουλή των Ελλήνων; transliterated Vouli ton Ellinon; literally Council of the Greeks) is the parliament of Greece, located in Syntagma Square in Athens. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ...

Premierships

First premiership

Panagis Tsaldaris formed his first government in 1932, along with Georgios Kondylis and Ioannis Metaxas, after he had first officially recognised the outcome of the plebiscite of 1924. Nevertheless, his governement was overturned and Tsaldaris formed a new government (the 10th of March 1933) after his victory in the elections of 1933. 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... Georgios Kondylis Georgios Kondylis (Greek: Γεώργιος Κονδύλης) (1878 - February 1, 1936) was a general of the Greek army and Prime Minister of Greece. ... Ioannis Metaxas (Greek Ιωάννης Μεταξάς, April 12, 1871 - January 29, 1941) was a Greek General and the Prime Minister of Greece from 1936 until his death. ...

Second premiership

In his second premiership, Tsaldaris cooperated once again with Georgios Kondylis and Ioannis Metaxas. He confronted with success the military movement of Nikolaos Plastiras, but because of this crisis an interim government under the leadership of lieutenant general Nikolaos Othonaios was appointed.
The reputation of his government was, nevertheless, blackened, because of the assassination attack against Eleftherios Venizelos. Tsaldaris had no involvement and he condemned the criminal atttack, but party members and supporters of him were deemed responsible for the assault.
At the same time, three prominent members of the People's Party expressed their support for the monarchy and the exiled George II. Tsaldaris denounced such statements, which caused the outrage of the Fileleftheron Komma (Liberal Party) and a new military movement in 1935. After the successful suppression of the movement, Tsaldaris dissolved the Parliament and proclaimed early elections, asking for the election of a Constitutional Assembly. Georgios Kondylis Georgios Kondylis (Greek: Γεώργιος Κονδύλης) (1878 - February 1, 1936) was a general of the Greek army and Prime Minister of Greece. ... Ioannis Metaxas (Greek Ιωάννης Μεταξάς, April 12, 1871 - January 29, 1941) was a Greek General and the Prime Minister of Greece from 1936 until his death. ... Nikolaos Plastiras (Greek: Νικόλαος Πλαστήρας) (November 4, 1883 - July 26, 1953) was a general of the Greek army. ... Eleftherios Venizelos (1864-1936), Greek statesman and diplomat. ... The Peoples Party of Greece (Laiko Komma or Laikon Komma) was a conservative political party founded by Dimitrios Gounaris, the main political rival of Eleftherios Venizelos and his Liberal Party. ... Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ... George II (20 July 1890 - 1 April 1947), King of the Hellenes (Greece) ruled from 1922-1924 and 1935-1947. ... Komma Fileleftheron (Greek: Κόμμα Φιλελευθέρων - literally Party of the Friends of Liberty; usually translated as Liberal Party) was one of the major Greek political parties of the early 20th Century. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Hellenic Parliament (Greek: Βουλή των Ελλήνων; transliterated Vouli ton Ellinon; literally Council of the Greeks) is the parliament of Greece, located in Syntagma Square in Athens. ...

Noteworthy, during his second premiersip, Tsaldaris signed a quadripartite pact with the Balcan nations and a pact with Turkey, guaranting the common borders of the two countries.

Tsaldaris and Balcan leaders, signing a Pact of Peace in 1934

His last years (1935-1936)

The parties of the opposition, including the Liberal Party, did not participate in the elections of 1935, protesting for the electoral law, passed by Tsaldaris' government, and for the special courts, which had, already, sentenced to death two prominent liberal army officers, the generals Anastasios Papoulas and Miltiadis Koimisis. As a result, the People's Party achieved an easy victory and Tsaldaris formed a new government.
At the same time, the voices within the People's Party, demanding the immediate return of George II multiplied. During the electoral debate, the Union of Royalists, an ephemeral alliance formed by Ioannis Metaxas, Ioannis Rallis and Georgios Stratos, had already expressly demanded the return of the formet King.
Tsaldaris was also favorable to the former King's return, but he wanted first the conducting of a plebiscite. In the Assembly, Tsaldaris insisted in his initial stance and provoked the reaction of the leadership of the Army and of the former venizelist Georgios Kondylis.
On October 10, 1935, the chiefs of the Armed Forces (Alexandros Papagos was one of the them) demanded Tsaldaris' resignation. After the prime minister's resignation, the former Republican Kondylis declared himself Regent, abolished the Republic and staged a plebiscite on November 11 for the return of the monarchy. Before even the conducting of the plebiscite, Kondylis had already announced to the Assembly the abolition of the Republic and the restoration of the constitutional monarchy. Komma Fileleftheron (Greek: Κόμμα Φιλελευθέρων - literally Party of the Friends of Liberty; usually translated as Liberal Party) was one of the major Greek political parties of the early 20th Century. ... Elections in Greece gives information on election and election results in Greece. ... Anastasios Papoulas (1859-March 1935) was a Greek general and commander-in-chief during the Graeco-Turkish War of 1919-1922. ... The Peoples Party of Greece (Laiko Komma or Laikon Komma) was a conservative political party founded by Dimitrios Gounaris, the main political rival of Eleftherios Venizelos and his Liberal Party. ... George II (20 July 1890 - 1 April 1947), King of the Hellenes (Greece) ruled from 1922-1924 and 1935-1947. ... Ioannis Metaxas (Greek Ιωάννης Μεταξάς, April 12, 1871 - January 29, 1941) was a Greek General and the Prime Minister of Greece from 1936 until his death. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... The Hellenic Army (Greek: Ελληνικός Στράτος) is the land force of Greece (The Hellenic Republic). ... Venizelism was one of the major political movements in Greece from the 1900s until the mid 1970s. ... Georgios Kondylis Georgios Kondylis (Greek: Γεώργιος Κονδύλης) (1878 - February 1, 1936) was a general of the Greek army and Prime Minister of Greece. ... October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in Leap years). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Alexander Papagos (in Greek:Αλέξανδρος Παπάγος, Alexandros Papagos). ... Constitutional monarchies with representative parliamentary systems are shown in red A constitutional monarchy is a form of monarchical government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges an elected or hereditary monarch as head of state. ...

After these dramatic events, the People's Party was split and Ioannis Theotokis formed the National People's Party. In the elections of 1935 the People's Party and the Liberal Party were almost even. During the post-election era, Tsaldaris participated with passion in the Parliament and released some of his best and important speeches of his political career. Nevertheless, his bad health betrayed him and he did not managed to fulfil his political dreams. The Peoples Party of Greece (Laiko Komma or Laikon Komma) was a conservative political party founded by Dimitrios Gounaris, the main political rival of Eleftherios Venizelos and his Liberal Party. ... Komma Fileleftheron (Greek: Κόμμα Φιλελευθέρων - literally Party of the Friends of Liberty; usually translated as Liberal Party) was one of the major Greek political parties of the early 20th Century. ...

He died the 17 May of 1936. Before his death, he voted down the first government of Ioannis Metaxas, the forerunner of the following dictatorship. May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Ioannis Metaxas (Greek Ιωάννης Μεταξάς, April 12, 1871 - January 29, 1941) was a Greek General and the Prime Minister of Greece from 1936 until his death. ...

Legacy

Panagis Tsaldaris was a revered for his moderation royalist and right-wing politician. It is caracteristic, that, when Kondylis, Papagos and other royalists of his parataxis demanded the immediate enforcement of the constitutional monarchy, Tsaldaris opposed these plans, asking for the conducting of a referendum. When he saw the burdain of political instability, Tsaldaris preferred to step down instead of exacerbating the turmoil. At the same time, he remained firm to his democratic values.
After all, this was his main problem and his political torture: the balance between his democratic principles and his royalist affiliations. Tsaldaris had once said: "I was always ant-venizelist and royalist but, at the same time, I always remained lawful (Ta Nea online)", a combination difficult to be achieved, as the dramatic events of 1935 proved. And, although Tsaldaris portraited himself as anti-venizelist, the truth is that he had some common traits with Venizelos: They were both anti-popularist and anti-extremist. The problem was that Tsaldaris lacked Venizelos' charisma and the popular appeal of his main political opponent. Venizelos marked a whole era and arose intense passions; Tsaldaris' passing through history was much more quiet.
Certainly, Tsaldaris may be accused for one thing: During the last years of his political career, he did not foresee the Metaxas' dictatorship and he did not react in order to prevent the enforcement of the dictatorial regime. But was he the only short-sighted politician during these difficult years? 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...