Antonis Samaras

Antonis Samaras, (born May 23, 1951 in Athens) is a Greek politician and Member of the European Parliament for New Democracy; part of the European People's Party.

He was Greek Foreign Minister in the Nea Demokratia (New Democracy) government of Konstantinos Mitsotakis (1989-1992), a hardliner on the "Macedonian Question" and on other national issues. After being removed from his post in 1992 over the Macedonian Question, Samaras resigned from being a Member of the Parliament. In June 1993, he founded his own party, "Political Spring" [greek: Πολιτική Άνοιξη].

Political Spring gained 4.9% in the National Elections of 1993 earning ten seats in the Parliament. It gained 8.7% in the elections for the European Parliament in 1994 earning two seats. Its decline started in the National Elections of 1996, when it gained 2.94%, just below the national limit of 3%, thus not being able to earn any seats in the Parliament. It participated in the elections for European Parliament in 1999, but it got 2.3% which was again below the limit and considered another failure. Political Spring did not participate in the elections of 2000, but Antonis Samaras publicly supported the New Democracy party. Before the next general elections in April 2004, Samaras joined again New Democracy and he was elected as a MEP in June 2004.

Preceded by: Georgios Papoulias	Minister for Foreign Affairs 1989–1990	Succeeded by: Georgios Papoulias
Preceded by: Georgios Papoulias	Minister for Foreign Affairs 1993–1996	Succeeded by: Konstantinos Mitsotakis

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