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{{short description|Greek politician}}
{{Short description|Greek politician (1922–2020)}}
{{Rip|date=March 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Manolis Glezos
| name = Manolis Glezos
| native_name = Μανώλης Γλέζος
| native_name = Μανώλης Γλέζος
| native_name_lang = el
| native_name_lang = el
| image = Manolis Glezos with LAE 2.jpg
| image = Manolis Glezos with LAE 1.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| smallimage = <!--If this is specified, "image" should not be.-->
| caption = Manolis Glezos in 2015.
| alt =
| order =
| parliament = European
| caption = Manolis Glezos giving a speech in [[Omonoia Square]], [[Athens]] in 2015.
| constituency_MP = [[Greece (European Parliament constituency)|Greece]]
| order =
| parliament = European
| term_start = 1 July 2014
| term_end = 8 July 2015 <small>(resigned)</small>
| constituency_MP = [[Greece (European Parliament constituency)|Greece]]
| term_start = 1 July 2014
| successor = [[Nikolaos Chountis]]
| term_end = 8 July 2015 <small>(resigned)</small>
| term_start2 = 24 July 1984
| successor = [[Nikolaos Chountis]]
| term_end2 = 25 January 1985 <small>(resigned)</small>
| term_start2 = 24 July 1984
| successor2 = Spiridon Kolokotronis
| parliament6 = Hellenic
| term_end2 = 25 January 1985 <small>(resigned)</small>
| successor2 = Spiridon Kolokotronis
| term_start6 = 9 September 1951
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|9|9|df=y}}
| term_end6 = 16 November 1952
| parliament5 = Hellenic
| birth_place = [[Apiranthos]], [[Naxos]], [[Greece]]
| constituency_MP5 = [[Athens A]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|03|30|1922|9|9|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Athens]], [[Greece]]
| term_start5 = 18 October 1981
| nationality = [[Greek]]
| term_end5 = 7 May 1985
| parliament4 = Hellenic
| party = [[Popular Unity (Greece)|Popular Unity]] (2015–2020)<br>[[Syriza]] (2012–2015)<br />[[Synaspismos]] (1991–2012)<br>[[Pasok]] (1981–1989)<br> [[United Democratic Left]] (1974–1981)<br>[[Communist Party of Greece]]
| constituency_MP4 = [[Piraeus B]]
| term_start4 = 17 June 1985
| term_end4 = 31 December 1986 <small>(resigned)</small>
| parliament3 = Hellenic
| constituency_MP3 = [[Closed list|National list]]
| term_start3 = 6 May 2012
| term_end3 = 2 May 2014 <small>(resigned)</small>
| office7 = President of [[United Democratic Left]]
| term_start7 = 25 January 1985
| term_end7 = 1989
| predecessor7 = [[Ilias Iliou]]
| successor7 = Andreas Lentakis
| office8 = General Secretary of [[United Democratic Left]]
| term_start8 = 1981
| term_end8 = 25 January 1985
| successor8 = Theodoros Katrivanos
| office9 = President of the Community of [[Apeiranthos]]
| term_start9 = 1 January 1987
| term_end9 = 31 December 1990
| office10 = Prefectural Councillor of Athens-Piraeus super-prefecture
| term_start10 = 1 January 2003
| term_end10 = 31 December 2006
| office11 = Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of [[Paros]]
| term_start11 = 1 January 2011
| term_end11 = 6 May 2012 <small>(resigned)</small>
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|9|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Apiranthos]], [[Naxos]], [[Kingdom of Greece]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|03|30|1922|9|9|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Athens]], [[Hellenic Republic]]
| resting_place = [[First Cemetery of Athens]]
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Anastasia Kouka|1947|9 September 1980|reason=died}}
* {{marriage|Georgia Argyrou|1986|<!-- Omission per Template:Marriage instructions -->}}
}}
}}
| children = 2
| nationality = [[Greece|Greek]]
| party = [[Popular Unity (Greece)|Popular Unity]] (2015–2020)<br>[[Syriza]] (2012–2015)<br />[[Synaspismos]] (1991–2012)<br>[[PASOK]] (1981–1989)<br> [[United Democratic Left]] (1974–1989)<br>[[Communist Party of Greece]] (1941–1968)
| alma_mater = [[Athens University of Economics and Business|Higher School of Economic and Commercial Studies]]
| battles = {{tree list}}
*[[World War II]]
**[[Greek Resistance]]
{{tree list/end}}
| allegiance = [[National Liberation Front (Greece)|EAM]]
| branch = [[Young Communist League of Greece|OKNE]]<br>[[United Panhellenic Organization of Youth|EPON]]
}}

'''Manolis Glezos''' ({{langx|el|Μανώλης Γλέζος}}; 9 September 1922 – 30 March 2020<ref name=death>{{cite news |title=Veteran leftist and resistance fighter Manolis Glezos dies at 98 |url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/251143/article/ekathimerini/news/veteran-leftist-and-resistance-fighter-manolis-glezos-dies-at-98 |access-date=30 March 2020 |work=Kathimerini |language=en}}</ref>) was a Greek [[left-wing politics|left-wing]] politician, journalist, author, and folk hero, best known for his participation in the [[World War II]] [[Greek Resistance|resistance]].

In Greece, he is best remembered for taking down the [[Flag of Nazi Germany]] from the [[Acropolis of Athens|Acropolis]] during the [[Axis occupation of Greece]], along with [[Apostolos Santas|Lakis Santas]]. After the end of the Occupation, his left-wing political beliefs and activism led to him being sentenced to death thrice; his imprisonments and legal troubles were often the topic of international interest, until his permanent release in 1971.

Since the [[Greek military junta of 1967–74#Collapse|restoration of democracy]] in 1974, he had been active as a politician, becoming a [[Member of the Greek Parliament]] for various left-wing parties over the years. In 2014, at the age of 91, he became a [[Member of the European Parliament]] for a second time in his life, for [[Syriza]], making him the oldest-ever member of the [[European Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oldest and youngest MEPs by Member State {{!}} News {{!}} European Parliament|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20140625BKG50503/election-of-new-ep-president-14-vice-presidents-and-five-quaestors/4/oldest-and-youngest-meps-by-member-state|access-date=2021-04-08|website=www.europarl.europa.eu|date=26 June 2014 |language=en}}</ref> He was also the most voted-for candidate in Greece.


Glezos was an award-winning journalist, and worked as head-editor and editor for the left-wing newspapers ''[[Rizospastis]]'' and ''[[I Avgi]]'', which are popular to this day; he also published six books.
'''Manolis Glezos''' ({{lang-el|Μανώλης Γλέζος}}; 9 September 1922 – 30 March 2020<ref name=death/>) was a Greek [[left-wing politics|left-wing]] politician and guerilla fighter, best known for his participation in the [[World War II]] [[Greek Resistance|resistance]].


== Early life and World War II ==
== Early life and World War II ==
Born in the village of [[Apiranthos]], [[Naxos]], Glezos moved to [[Athens]] in 1935 together with his family, where he finished high school. During his high school years in Athens he also worked as a pharmacy employee. He was admitted to the [[Athens University of Economics and Business|Higher School of Economic and Commercial Studies]] (known today as the Athens University of Economics and Business) in 1940. In 1939, still a high school student, Glezos participated in the creation of an [[anti-fascist]] youth group against the Italian occupation of the [[Dodecanese]] and the dictatorship of [[Ioannis Metaxas]]. At the onset of World War II he volunteered to join the Greek army in the Albanian front against Italy, but was rejected because he was underage. Instead, he worked as a volunteer for the Hellenic Ministry of Economics. During the [[Axis occupation of Greece]], he worked for the Hellenic [[Red Cross]] and the municipality of Athens, while actively involved in the [[Greek Resistance|resistance]].
Born in the village of [[Apiranthos]], [[Naxos]], Glezos moved to [[Athens]] in 1935 together with his family, where he finished high school. During his high school years in Athens, he also worked as a pharmacy employee. He was admitted to the [[Athens University of Economics and Business|Higher School of Economic and Commercial Studies]] (known today as the Athens University of Economics and Business) in 1940. In 1939, still a high school student, Glezos participated in the creation of an [[anti-fascist]] youth group against the Italian occupation of the [[Dodecanese]] and the dictatorship of [[Ioannis Metaxas]]. At the onset of World War II, he volunteered to join the Greek army in the Albanian front against Italy but was rejected because he was underage. Instead, he worked as a volunteer for the Hellenic Ministry of Economics. During the [[Axis occupation of Greece]], he worked for the Hellenic [[Red Cross]] and the municipality of Athens, while actively involved in the [[Greek Resistance|resistance]].


[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-164-0368-04, Athen, Hakenkreuzflagge auf der Akropolis.jpg|right|thumb|120px|The swastika on the Akropolis]]According to popular tradition, on 27 April 1941 [[Konstantinos Koukidis]] was ordered to lower the Greek flag, and raise the Nazi swastika flag. Koukidis allegedly lowered the flag, and jumped from the Acropolis holding it, rather than raise the Nazi flag.
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-164-0368-04, Athen, Hakenkreuzflagge auf der Akropolis.jpg|thumb|The swastika on the Acropolis, May 1941|left]]According to popular tradition, on 27 April 1941 [[Konstantinos Koukidis]] was ordered to lower the Greek flag, and raise the Nazi swastika flag. Koukidis allegedly lowered the flag and jumped from the Acropolis holding it, rather than raise the Nazi flag.


On 30 May 1941 Glezos and [[Apostolos Santas]] climbed on the [[Acropolis, Athens|Acropolis]] and tore down the [[Flag of Nazi Germany|swastika]], which had been there since 27 April 1941, when the Nazi forces had entered Athens. It inspired not only the Greeks, but all subjected people, to resist the occupation, and established them both as two international anti-Nazi heroes. The Nazi regime responded by sentencing the perpetrators to death ''in absentia,'' but they did not learn who they were until much later. Glezos was [[arrest]]ed by the German occupation forces on 24 March 1942 and was subjected to imprisonment and torture. As a result of his treatment, he was affected by [[tuberculosis]]. He was arrested on 21 April 1943 by the Italian occupation forces and spent three months in jail.
On 30 May 1941 Glezos and [[Apostolos Santas]] climbed on the [[Acropolis, Athens|Acropolis]] and tore down the [[Flag of Nazi Germany|swastika]], which had been there since 27 April 1941, when the Nazi forces had entered Athens. It inspired not only the Greeks, but all subjected people, to resist the occupation, and established them both as two international anti-Nazi heroes.


Hours later, the Nazi regime sentenced the perpetrators to death, but they were not identified until much later.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alderman |first1=Liz |title=Since Nazi Occupation, a Fist Raised in Resistance |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/06/world/europe/since-nazi-occupation-a-fist-raised-in-resistance.html |access-date=30 April 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=5 September 2014}}</ref> Glezos was [[arrest]]ed by the German occupation forces on 24 March 1942, imprisoned, and tortured. As a result of his treatment, he was affected by [[tuberculosis]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Students|first=International Union of|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sr1YAAAAMAAJ|title=Students Fight for Freedom|date=1950|publisher=International Union of Students|pages=27|language=en|quote=who tore down the swastika from the Acropolis in May 1941, and whose death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in December last as a result of world wide protest, is reported by the ELD Socialist paper Machi to have been transported to a fortress on the island of Corfu, where he is confined in a damp cellar. As Glezos suffers from tuberculosis, this treatment amounts to slow, murder. Repeated efforts by his relatives ...}}</ref>
== Career and political activism ==


Glezos was arrested again on 21 April 1943 by the Italian occupation forces and spent three months in jail. In 1944, he was imprisoned by [[Hellenic State (1941–1944)|Greek collaborators]] and beaten for trying to escape.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Magra |first1=Iliana |title=Manolis Glezos Dies at 97; Tore Down Nazi Flag Over Athens |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/world/europe/manolis-glezos-dead.html |access-date=30 April 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=1 April 2020}}</ref>

== Career and political activism ==
=== Post-war period ===
=== Post-war period ===
[[File:Manolis Glezos Soviet stamp.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Glezos on a 1959 [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] postage stamp.]]
[[File:1959 CPA 2379.jpg|thumb|Glezos on a 1959 [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] postage stamp.|left]]
The end of World War II was not the end of Glezos' plight. On 3 March 1948, in the midst of the [[Greek Civil War]], he was put to trial for his political convictions and sentenced to death multiple times by the national government. His death penalties were reduced to a life sentence in 1950. Even though he was still imprisoned, Manolis Glezos was elected member of the Hellenic Parliament in 1951, under the flag of the [[United Democratic Left]], also known as EDA ({{lang|el|Ενιαία Δημοκρατική Αριστερά, ΕΔΑ}}). Upon his election, he went on a [[hunger strike]] demanding the release of his fellow EDA MPs that were imprisoned or exiled in the Greek islands. He ended his hunger strike upon the release of 7 MPs from their exile. He was released from prison on 16 July 1954.
The end of World War II was not the end of Glezos' plight. On 3 March 1948, in the midst of the [[Greek Civil War]], he was put to trial for his political convictions and sentenced to death multiple times by the national government.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Manolis Glezos obituary|newspaper=[[The Times]]|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/manolis-glezos-obituary-d7r3qq8m6|access-date=2020-12-18|issn=0140-0460|quote=Glezos, who worked as a journalist, was arrested by the authorities in 1948 and sentenced to death.}}</ref> His death penalties were reduced to a life sentence in 1950. Even though he was still imprisoned, Manolis Glezos was elected member of the Hellenic Parliament in 1951, under the flag of the [[United Democratic Left]], also known as EDA ({{lang|el|Ενιαία Δημοκρατική Αριστερά, ΕΔΑ}}). Upon his election, he went on a [[hunger strike]] demanding the release of his fellow EDA MPs that were imprisoned or exiled in the Greek islands. He ended his hunger strike upon the release of 7 MPs from their exile. He was released from prison on 16 July 1954.


On 5 December 1958 he was arrested again and convicted for [[espionage]], which was common pretext for the persecution of the supporters of the left during the [[Cold War]]. The [[Soviet Union]] reacted circulating a postage stamp with Glezos, while the Greek government responded with a postage stamp depicting [[Imre Nagy]]. His release on 15 December 1962 was a result of the public outcry in Greece and abroad, including winning the [[Lenin Peace Prize]]. During his second term of post-war political imprisonment, Glezos was reelected MP with EDA in 1961. At the ''coup d'état'' of 21 April 1967, Glezos was arrested at 2 am, together with the rest of the political leaders. During the ''[[Regime of the Colonels]]'', the military dictatorship led by [[Georgios Papadopoulos|George Papadopoulos]], he was imprisoned and [[Exile|exiled]] until his release in 1971.
On 5 December 1958, he was arrested again and convicted of [[espionage]], which was the common pretext for the persecution of the supporters of the left during the [[Cold War]]. The [[Soviet Union]] reacted circulating a postage stamp with Glezos, while the Greek government responded with a postage stamp depicting [[Imre Nagy]]. His release on 15 December 1962 was a result of the public outcry in Greece and abroad, including winning the [[Lenin Peace Prize]]. During his second term of post-war political imprisonment, Glezos was reelected MP with EDA in 1961. At the ''coup d'état'' of 21 April 1967, Glezos was arrested at 2 am, together with the rest of the political leaders. During the ''[[Regime of the Colonels]]'', the military dictatorship led by [[Georgios Papadopoulos|George Papadopoulos]], he was imprisoned and [[exile]]d until his release in 1971.


Manolis Glezos' sentences, from the Second World War to the [[Greek Civil War]] and the ''Regime of the Colonels'' totals to 11 years and 4 months of imprisonment, and 4 years and 6 months of exile.
Manolis Glezos' sentences, from the Second World War to the [[Greek Civil War]] and the ''Regime of the Colonels'' total 11 years and 4 months of imprisonment, and 4 years and 6 months of exile.


=== Since 1974 ===
=== Since 1974 ===
After the [[Greek military junta of 1967–74#Collapse|restoration of democracy in Greece]] in 1974, Glezos participated in the reviving of EDA. In the elections of [[1981 Greek legislative election|October 1981]] and [[1985 Greek legislative election|June 1985]], he was elected Member of the [[Greek Parliament]], on a [[Panhellenic Socialist Movement]] (PASOK) ticket. In 1984 he was elected Member of the [[European Parliament]], again on a PASOK ticket. He was the President of EDA from 1985 until 1989. In the meantime, in 1986, he withdrew from the Parliament, in order to try to implement a [[grassroots democracy]] experiment. He did so in the community of [[Aperathu]], where he was elected as the President of the Community Council in 1986 elections. He then essentially abolished the privileges of the council, introducing a "[[constitution]]" and establishing a local [[Deliberative assembly|assembly]] that had total control over the community administration. This model worked for several years, but in the long term the interest of the rest of his community wore off and the assembly was abandoned. Glezos remained the President until 1989.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}
After the [[Greek military junta of 1967–74#Collapse|restoration of democracy in Greece]] in 1974, Glezos participated in the reviving of EDA. In the elections of [[1981 Greek legislative election|October 1981]] and [[1985 Greek legislative election|June 1985]], he was elected Member of the [[Greek Parliament]], on a [[Panhellenic Socialist Movement]] (PASOK) ticket. In 1984 he was elected Member of the [[European Parliament]], again on a PASOK ticket. He was the President of EDA from 1985 until 1989. In the meantime, in 1986, he withdrew from the Parliament, in order to try to implement a [[grassroots democracy]] experiment. He did so in the community of [[Aperathu]], where he was elected as the President of the Community Council in 1986 elections. He then essentially abolished the privileges of the council, introducing a "[[constitution]]" and establishing a local [[Deliberative assembly|assembly]] that had total control over the community administration. This model worked for several years, but in the long term the interest of the rest of his community wore off and the assembly was abandoned. Glezos remained the President until 1989.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}


In the [[2000 Greek legislative election]] he led the list of [[Synaspismos]] (in English ''Coalition'') party of the radical left. In 2002, he formed the political group [[Active Citizens]] (which is part of [[Coalition of the Radical Left]], an alliance with [[Synaspismos]] and other minor parties of the Greek left) and he ran as a candidate prefect for [[Attica]].
In the [[2000 Greek legislative election]] he led the list of [[Synaspismos]] (in English ''Coalition'') party of the radical left. In 2002, he formed the political group Active Citizens (which is part of [[Coalition of the Radical Left]], an alliance with [[Synaspismos]] and other minor parties of the Greek left) and he ran as a candidate prefect for [[Attica]].


In March 2010, Glezos was participating in a protest demonstration in Athens, when he was hit in the face by a police tear gas canister. He was carried away injured.<ref name="Teargas incident BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8551227.stm|title= Greece does not need financial aid, says Angela Merkel|date=2010-03-05|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref>
In March 2010, Glezos was participating in a protest demonstration in Athens, when he was hit in the face by a police tear gas canister. He was carried away injured.<ref name="Teargas incident BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8551227.stm|title= Greece does not need financial aid, says Angela Merkel|date=2010-03-05|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|access-date=6 March 2010}}</ref>


In February 2012, Glezos was arrested by riot police while protesting in Athens.<ref name="Teargas incident Twitter">{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/VeriasA/status/168855869260443648/photo/1|title= Man who ripped down swastika in Athens arrested|date=2010-03-05|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref> He was sprayed with tear gas by one of the police officers in that area.
In February 2012, Glezos was arrested by riot police while protesting in Athens.<ref name="Teargas incident Twitter">{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/VeriasA/status/168855869260443648/photo/1|title= Man who ripped down swastika in Athens arrested|date=2010-03-05|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|access-date=6 March 2010}}</ref> He was sprayed with tear gas by one of the police officers in that area.


In the June 2012 parliamentary election, Glezos was elected as MP of the [[Coalition of Radical Left]] (SYRIZA) party.
In the June 2012 parliamentary election, Glezos was elected as MP of the [[Coalition of Radical Left]] (SYRIZA) party.


Glezos was a SYRIZA candidate for the [[European Parliament]] in the [[2014 European Parliament election in Greece|elections of 25 May 2014]]. He was elected to the European Parliament with over 430,000 votes, more than any other candidate in Greece. At age 91, he was also the oldest person elected to the European Parliament in the 2014 election.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/26/meet-the-new-faces-in-the-european-parliament "Meet the new faces ready to sweep into the European parliament"], ''The Guardian'', 26 May 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.politikh&id=433466 "Ευρωεκλογές: Πρώτος σε σταυρούς ο Γλέζος"], ''Eleftherotypia'', 1 June 2014.</ref> He resigned in July 2015, being succeeded by [[Nikolaos Chountis]].
Glezos was a SYRIZA candidate for the [[European Parliament]] in the [[2014 European Parliament election in Greece|elections of 25 May 2014]]. He was elected to the European Parliament with over 430,000 votes, more than any other candidate in Greece. At age 91, he was also the oldest person elected to the European Parliament in the 2014 election.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/26/meet-the-new-faces-in-the-european-parliament "Meet the new faces ready to sweep into the European parliament"], ''The Guardian'', 26 May 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.politikh&id=433466 "Ευρωεκλογές: Πρώτος σε σταυρούς ο Γλέζος"], ''Eleftherotypia'', 1 June 2014.</ref>

In 2015, Glezos took a firm stance in favour of the "No" vote in the [[2015 Greek bailout referendum|Greek bailout referendum]]. As an MEP he also participated in a support protest in Brussels, along with thousands of Belgians<ref>RT video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t26kEcfSHpo "Thousands of Belgians support Greek OHI (No)"] (03/07/2015)</ref> in favour of Greeks voting negatively in the referendum, a few days before the latter takes place.<ref>Solidarity protest in Brussels (03/07/2015). See [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQoMnPr3V_w video]</ref>
He resigned from his position in the European Parliament in July 2015, being succeeded by [[Nikolaos Chountis]]. The same year, he left SYRIZA before the [[September 2015 Greek legislative election|September 2015 Greek election]], where he was an MP candidate with the newly formed [[Popular Unity (Greece)|Popular Unity]] party.

In 2018, Manolis Glezos publicly voiced his opposition to the [[Prespa Agreement]] between Athens and Skopje on the resolution of the [[Macedonia naming dispute]] -despite the agreement being promoted by the SYRIZA government party which he formerly supported. In an article for the Greek daily paper ''[[Kathimerini]]'', he insisted that the people of the [[North Macedonia|neighbouring country]] should "define themselves in accordance with their history, language, traditions... taking out of their mind the word Macedonia".<ref>Greek City Times, Resistance icon Glezos to Skopje: [https://greekcitytimes.com/2018/02/13/greek-resistance-icon-glezos-to-skopje-take-out-of-your-mind-the-word-macedonia-3/?amp "Take out of your mind the word Macedonia"]</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/948102/article/epikairothta/politikh/ar8ro-manwlh-glezoy-sthn-k-ypografoyn-grammatia-poy-den-mporoyn-na-e3oflhsoyn|author=Manolis Glezos|newspaper=[[Kathimerini]]|date=2018-02-11|language=el|title=Αρθρο Μανώλη Γλέζου στην "Κ": Υπογράφουν γραμμάτια που δεν μπορούν να εξοφλήσουν|trans-title=Article by Manolis Glezos in «K»: they are signing checks which cannot be redeemed|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref>


== Non-political career ==
== Non-political career ==
Apart from his political work, Glezos invented a system to prevent [[flood]]s, combat [[erosion]] and preserve underground [[water]], that works by the constructions of a series of very small dams that redirect water to [[aquifer]]s. For his contributions to democracy, to geological sciences, and to linguistics he was pronounced honorary Doctor of Philosophy of the [[University of Patras]] (Department of Geology) in 1996, of the [[Aristotle University of Thessaloniki]] (Department of Civil Engineering) in 2001, of the [[National Technical University of Athens]] (School of Mining & Metallurgical Engineering) in 2003, and of the [[National and Kapodistrian University of Athens]] (School of Philosophy) in 2008.
Apart from his political work, Glezos invented a system to prevent [[flood]]s, combat [[erosion]] and preserve underground [[water]], that works by the constructions of a series of very small dams that redirect water to [[aquifer]]s. For his contributions to democracy, to geological sciences, and to linguistics he was pronounced honorary Doctor of Philosophy of the [[University of Patras]] (Department of Geology) in 1996, of the [[Aristotle University of Thessaloniki]] (Department of Civil Engineering) in 2001, of the [[National Technical University of Athens]] (School of Mining & Metallurgical Engineering) in 2003, and of the [[National and Kapodistrian University of Athens]] (School of Philosophy) in 2008.

==Death==
==Death==


On 30 March 2020, Glezos died of heart failure, at the age of 97. [[Alexis Tsipras]], former Greek prime-minister, said, "He will remain for all eternity the symbol of a fighter who knew how to sacrifice himself for the people." The Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] sent a condolence message to the Greek government, which included, inter alia, the following words:<ref>skai.gr, [https://www.skai.gr/news/politics/tilegrafima-poutin-se-mitsotaki-to-ksexoristo-antio-ston-manoli-glezo Putin's condolence message to Mitsotakis, a special "farewell' for Manolis Glezos] (in Greek), 01/04/2020</ref><ref>neoskosmos.gr, [https://neoskosmos.com/en/161934/vladimir-putin-sends-condolence-message-for-manolis-glezos-a-true-friend/ Vladimir Putin sends condolence message for Manolis Glezos, a “true friend”], 02/04/2020</ref> "To his Excellency, PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis. May you accept [my] deep condolences for the loss of Manolis Glezos, a brilliant political and social figure of Greece and a hero of the Greek Resistance at World War II. Manolis Glezos was a true friend of our country [...] He [also] greatly contributed, in person, in the struggle against the distortion of history. [...] With honour, Vladimir Putin. Moscow [[Kremlin]], April 1st, 2020".
On 30 March 2020, Glezos died of heart failure. [[Alexis Tsipras]] stated, "He will remain for all eternity the symbol of a fighter who knew how to sacrifice himself for people."<ref name=death>{{cite news |title=Veteran leftist and resistance fighter Manolis Glezos dies at 98 |url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/251143/article/ekathimerini/news/veteran-leftist-and-resistance-fighter-manolis-glezos-dies-at-98 |accessdate=30 March 2020 |work=Kathimerini |language=English}}</ref>

===Funeral===
His funeral was held in the [[First Cemetery of Athens]], in public expense on April 1, with only his family present, due to the restrictions for the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

== Publications ==
== Publications ==
Glezos wrote articles in Greek newspapers since 1942 and was the editor of the newspapers ''[[Rizospastis]]'' and ''[[I Avgi]]'' in the 1950s. He was awarded the International Award of Journalism in 1958, the Golden Medal Joliot-Curie of the [[World Peace Council]] in 1959, and the [[Lenin Peace Prize]] in 1963. He published six books in Greek:
Glezos wrote articles in Greek newspapers since 1942 and was the editor of the newspapers ''[[Rizospastis]]'' and ''[[I Avgi]]'' in the 1950s. He was awarded the International Award of Journalism in 1958, the Golden Medal Joliot-Curie of the [[World Peace Council]] in 1959, and the [[Lenin Peace Prize]] in 1963. He published six books in Greek:
* ''The History of the Book'' (''Η ιστορία του βιβλίου'', 1974)
* ''The History of the Book'' (''Η ιστορία του βιβλίου'', 1974)
* ''From Dictatorship to Democracy'' (''Από τη Δικτατορία στη ∆ηµοκρατία'', 1974)
* ''From Dictatorship to Democracy'' (''Από τη Δικτατορία στη ∆ημοκρατία'', 1974)
* ''The Phenomenon of Alienation in the Language'' (''Το φαινόµενο της αλλοτρίωσης στη γλώσσα'', 1977)
* ''The Phenomenon of Alienation in the Language'' (''Το φαινόμενο της αλλοτρίωσης στη γλώσσα'', 1977)
* ''The Conscience of the Rocky Earth'', (''Η συνείδηση της πετραίας γης'', 1997)
* ''The Conscience of the Rocky Earth'', (''Η συνείδηση της πετραίας γης'', 1997)
* ''Hydor, Aura, Nero'', (''Ύδωρ, Αύρα, Νερό'', 2001)
* ''Hydor, Aura, Nero'', (''Ύδωρ, Αύρα, Νερό'', 2001)
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== External links ==
== External links ==
*{{commons category-inline|Manolis Glezos}}
*{{wikiquote-inline|Manolis Glezos}}
* {{MEP}}
* {{MEP}}


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Latest revision as of 01:21, 23 December 2024

Manolis Glezos
Μανώλης Γλέζος
Manolis Glezos in 2015.
Member of the European Parliament
for Greece
In office
1 July 2014 – 8 July 2015 (resigned)
Succeeded byNikolaos Chountis
In office
24 July 1984 – 25 January 1985 (resigned)
Succeeded bySpiridon Kolokotronis
Member of the Hellenic Parliament
for National list
In office
6 May 2012 – 2 May 2014 (resigned)
Member of the Hellenic Parliament
for Piraeus B
In office
17 June 1985 – 31 December 1986 (resigned)
Member of the Hellenic Parliament
for Athens A
In office
18 October 1981 – 7 May 1985
In office
9 September 1951 – 16 November 1952
President of United Democratic Left
In office
25 January 1985 – 1989
Preceded byIlias Iliou
Succeeded byAndreas Lentakis
General Secretary of United Democratic Left
In office
1981 – 25 January 1985
Succeeded byTheodoros Katrivanos
President of the Community of Apeiranthos
In office
1 January 1987 – 31 December 1990
Prefectural Councillor of Athens-Piraeus super-prefecture
In office
1 January 2003 – 31 December 2006
Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of Paros
In office
1 January 2011 – 6 May 2012 (resigned)
Personal details
Born(1922-09-09)9 September 1922
Apiranthos, Naxos, Kingdom of Greece
Died30 March 2020(2020-03-30) (aged 97)
Athens, Hellenic Republic
Resting placeFirst Cemetery of Athens
Political partyPopular Unity (2015–2020)
Syriza (2012–2015)
Synaspismos (1991–2012)
PASOK (1981–1989)
United Democratic Left (1974–1989)
Communist Party of Greece (1941–1968)
Spouses
Anastasia Kouka
(m. 1947; died 1980)
Georgia Argyrou
(m. 1986)
Children2
Alma materHigher School of Economic and Commercial Studies
Military service
AllegianceEAM
Branch/serviceOKNE
EPON
Battles/wars

Manolis Glezos (Greek: Μανώλης Γλέζος; 9 September 1922 – 30 March 2020[1]) was a Greek left-wing politician, journalist, author, and folk hero, best known for his participation in the World War II resistance.

In Greece, he is best remembered for taking down the Flag of Nazi Germany from the Acropolis during the Axis occupation of Greece, along with Lakis Santas. After the end of the Occupation, his left-wing political beliefs and activism led to him being sentenced to death thrice; his imprisonments and legal troubles were often the topic of international interest, until his permanent release in 1971.

Since the restoration of democracy in 1974, he had been active as a politician, becoming a Member of the Greek Parliament for various left-wing parties over the years. In 2014, at the age of 91, he became a Member of the European Parliament for a second time in his life, for Syriza, making him the oldest-ever member of the European Parliament.[2] He was also the most voted-for candidate in Greece.

Glezos was an award-winning journalist, and worked as head-editor and editor for the left-wing newspapers Rizospastis and I Avgi, which are popular to this day; he also published six books.

Early life and World War II

[edit]

Born in the village of Apiranthos, Naxos, Glezos moved to Athens in 1935 together with his family, where he finished high school. During his high school years in Athens, he also worked as a pharmacy employee. He was admitted to the Higher School of Economic and Commercial Studies (known today as the Athens University of Economics and Business) in 1940. In 1939, still a high school student, Glezos participated in the creation of an anti-fascist youth group against the Italian occupation of the Dodecanese and the dictatorship of Ioannis Metaxas. At the onset of World War II, he volunteered to join the Greek army in the Albanian front against Italy but was rejected because he was underage. Instead, he worked as a volunteer for the Hellenic Ministry of Economics. During the Axis occupation of Greece, he worked for the Hellenic Red Cross and the municipality of Athens, while actively involved in the resistance.

The swastika on the Acropolis, May 1941

According to popular tradition, on 27 April 1941 Konstantinos Koukidis was ordered to lower the Greek flag, and raise the Nazi swastika flag. Koukidis allegedly lowered the flag and jumped from the Acropolis holding it, rather than raise the Nazi flag.

On 30 May 1941 Glezos and Apostolos Santas climbed on the Acropolis and tore down the swastika, which had been there since 27 April 1941, when the Nazi forces had entered Athens. It inspired not only the Greeks, but all subjected people, to resist the occupation, and established them both as two international anti-Nazi heroes.

Hours later, the Nazi regime sentenced the perpetrators to death, but they were not identified until much later.[3] Glezos was arrested by the German occupation forces on 24 March 1942, imprisoned, and tortured. As a result of his treatment, he was affected by tuberculosis.[4]

Glezos was arrested again on 21 April 1943 by the Italian occupation forces and spent three months in jail. In 1944, he was imprisoned by Greek collaborators and beaten for trying to escape.[5]

Career and political activism

[edit]

Post-war period

[edit]
Glezos on a 1959 Soviet postage stamp.

The end of World War II was not the end of Glezos' plight. On 3 March 1948, in the midst of the Greek Civil War, he was put to trial for his political convictions and sentenced to death multiple times by the national government.[6] His death penalties were reduced to a life sentence in 1950. Even though he was still imprisoned, Manolis Glezos was elected member of the Hellenic Parliament in 1951, under the flag of the United Democratic Left, also known as EDA (Ενιαία Δημοκρατική Αριστερά, ΕΔΑ). Upon his election, he went on a hunger strike demanding the release of his fellow EDA MPs that were imprisoned or exiled in the Greek islands. He ended his hunger strike upon the release of 7 MPs from their exile. He was released from prison on 16 July 1954.

On 5 December 1958, he was arrested again and convicted of espionage, which was the common pretext for the persecution of the supporters of the left during the Cold War. The Soviet Union reacted circulating a postage stamp with Glezos, while the Greek government responded with a postage stamp depicting Imre Nagy. His release on 15 December 1962 was a result of the public outcry in Greece and abroad, including winning the Lenin Peace Prize. During his second term of post-war political imprisonment, Glezos was reelected MP with EDA in 1961. At the coup d'état of 21 April 1967, Glezos was arrested at 2 am, together with the rest of the political leaders. During the Regime of the Colonels, the military dictatorship led by George Papadopoulos, he was imprisoned and exiled until his release in 1971.

Manolis Glezos' sentences, from the Second World War to the Greek Civil War and the Regime of the Colonels total 11 years and 4 months of imprisonment, and 4 years and 6 months of exile.

Since 1974

[edit]

After the restoration of democracy in Greece in 1974, Glezos participated in the reviving of EDA. In the elections of October 1981 and June 1985, he was elected Member of the Greek Parliament, on a Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) ticket. In 1984 he was elected Member of the European Parliament, again on a PASOK ticket. He was the President of EDA from 1985 until 1989. In the meantime, in 1986, he withdrew from the Parliament, in order to try to implement a grassroots democracy experiment. He did so in the community of Aperathu, where he was elected as the President of the Community Council in 1986 elections. He then essentially abolished the privileges of the council, introducing a "constitution" and establishing a local assembly that had total control over the community administration. This model worked for several years, but in the long term the interest of the rest of his community wore off and the assembly was abandoned. Glezos remained the President until 1989.[citation needed]

In the 2000 Greek legislative election he led the list of Synaspismos (in English Coalition) party of the radical left. In 2002, he formed the political group Active Citizens (which is part of Coalition of the Radical Left, an alliance with Synaspismos and other minor parties of the Greek left) and he ran as a candidate prefect for Attica.

In March 2010, Glezos was participating in a protest demonstration in Athens, when he was hit in the face by a police tear gas canister. He was carried away injured.[7]

In February 2012, Glezos was arrested by riot police while protesting in Athens.[8] He was sprayed with tear gas by one of the police officers in that area.

In the June 2012 parliamentary election, Glezos was elected as MP of the Coalition of Radical Left (SYRIZA) party.

Glezos was a SYRIZA candidate for the European Parliament in the elections of 25 May 2014. He was elected to the European Parliament with over 430,000 votes, more than any other candidate in Greece. At age 91, he was also the oldest person elected to the European Parliament in the 2014 election.[9][10]

In 2015, Glezos took a firm stance in favour of the "No" vote in the Greek bailout referendum. As an MEP he also participated in a support protest in Brussels, along with thousands of Belgians[11] in favour of Greeks voting negatively in the referendum, a few days before the latter takes place.[12] He resigned from his position in the European Parliament in July 2015, being succeeded by Nikolaos Chountis. The same year, he left SYRIZA before the September 2015 Greek election, where he was an MP candidate with the newly formed Popular Unity party.

In 2018, Manolis Glezos publicly voiced his opposition to the Prespa Agreement between Athens and Skopje on the resolution of the Macedonia naming dispute -despite the agreement being promoted by the SYRIZA government party which he formerly supported. In an article for the Greek daily paper Kathimerini, he insisted that the people of the neighbouring country should "define themselves in accordance with their history, language, traditions... taking out of their mind the word Macedonia".[13][14]

Non-political career

[edit]

Apart from his political work, Glezos invented a system to prevent floods, combat erosion and preserve underground water, that works by the constructions of a series of very small dams that redirect water to aquifers. For his contributions to democracy, to geological sciences, and to linguistics he was pronounced honorary Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Patras (Department of Geology) in 1996, of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Department of Civil Engineering) in 2001, of the National Technical University of Athens (School of Mining & Metallurgical Engineering) in 2003, and of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (School of Philosophy) in 2008.

Death

[edit]

On 30 March 2020, Glezos died of heart failure, at the age of 97. Alexis Tsipras, former Greek prime-minister, said, "He will remain for all eternity the symbol of a fighter who knew how to sacrifice himself for the people." The Russian president Vladimir Putin sent a condolence message to the Greek government, which included, inter alia, the following words:[15][16] "To his Excellency, PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis. May you accept [my] deep condolences for the loss of Manolis Glezos, a brilliant political and social figure of Greece and a hero of the Greek Resistance at World War II. Manolis Glezos was a true friend of our country [...] He [also] greatly contributed, in person, in the struggle against the distortion of history. [...] With honour, Vladimir Putin. Moscow Kremlin, April 1st, 2020".

Funeral

[edit]

His funeral was held in the First Cemetery of Athens, in public expense on April 1, with only his family present, due to the restrictions for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Publications

[edit]

Glezos wrote articles in Greek newspapers since 1942 and was the editor of the newspapers Rizospastis and I Avgi in the 1950s. He was awarded the International Award of Journalism in 1958, the Golden Medal Joliot-Curie of the World Peace Council in 1959, and the Lenin Peace Prize in 1963. He published six books in Greek:

  • The History of the Book (Η ιστορία του βιβλίου, 1974)
  • From Dictatorship to Democracy (Από τη Δικτατορία στη ∆ημοκρατία, 1974)
  • The Phenomenon of Alienation in the Language (Το φαινόμενο της αλλοτρίωσης στη γλώσσα, 1977)
  • The Conscience of the Rocky Earth, (Η συνείδηση της πετραίας γης, 1997)
  • Hydor, Aura, Nero, (Ύδωρ, Αύρα, Νερό, 2001)
  • National Resistance 1940-1945, (Εθνική Αντίσταση 1940-1945, 2006)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Veteran leftist and resistance fighter Manolis Glezos dies at 98". Kathimerini. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Oldest and youngest MEPs by Member State | News | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  3. ^ Alderman, Liz (5 September 2014). "Since Nazi Occupation, a Fist Raised in Resistance". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  4. ^ Students, International Union of (1950). Students Fight for Freedom. International Union of Students. p. 27. who tore down the swastika from the Acropolis in May 1941, and whose death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in December last as a result of world wide protest, is reported by the ELD Socialist paper Machi to have been transported to a fortress on the island of Corfu, where he is confined in a damp cellar. As Glezos suffers from tuberculosis, this treatment amounts to slow, murder. Repeated efforts by his relatives ...
  5. ^ Magra, Iliana (1 April 2020). "Manolis Glezos Dies at 97; Tore Down Nazi Flag Over Athens". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Manolis Glezos obituary". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-12-18. Glezos, who worked as a journalist, was arrested by the authorities in 1948 and sentenced to death.
  7. ^ "Greece does not need financial aid, says Angela Merkel". BBC News Online. 2010-03-05. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  8. ^ "Man who ripped down swastika in Athens arrested". BBC News Online. 2010-03-05. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  9. ^ "Meet the new faces ready to sweep into the European parliament", The Guardian, 26 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Ευρωεκλογές: Πρώτος σε σταυρούς ο Γλέζος", Eleftherotypia, 1 June 2014.
  11. ^ RT video: "Thousands of Belgians support Greek OHI (No)" (03/07/2015)
  12. ^ Solidarity protest in Brussels (03/07/2015). See video
  13. ^ Greek City Times, Resistance icon Glezos to Skopje: "Take out of your mind the word Macedonia"
  14. ^ Manolis Glezos (2018-02-11). "Αρθρο Μανώλη Γλέζου στην "Κ": Υπογράφουν γραμμάτια που δεν μπορούν να εξοφλήσουν" [Article by Manolis Glezos in «K»: they are signing checks which cannot be redeemed]. Kathimerini (in Greek). Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  15. ^ skai.gr, Putin's condolence message to Mitsotakis, a special "farewell' for Manolis Glezos (in Greek), 01/04/2020
  16. ^ neoskosmos.gr, Vladimir Putin sends condolence message for Manolis Glezos, a “true friend”, 02/04/2020
[edit]