Ilias Psinakis

Ilias Psinakis (Greek: Ηλίας Ψινάκης; born 8 April 1958) is a Greek politician, manager, and television personality.

Ilias Psinakis
Ilias Psinakis in 2018
Born (1958-04-08) 8 April 1958
Athens, Greece
OccupationMayor, manager, Greek television personality

Psinakis served as Mayor of Marathon, located in the administrative region of Attica, from 2014 until 2019.[1][2]

Early life and education

Psinakis was born in Greece to Panagiotis and Alice Psinakis. His father owned an electronics factory. While attending university in the United Kingdom, Psinakis studied international business and marketing, eventually receiving master's degrees in both.[3][4][5]

Career

Modeling and entertainment

Early in his career pursuits, Psinakis worked as a fashion model.[6] After modeling, Psinakis went on to work as a writer for a Greek television series.[7] His next career move was as manager for the Greek singer Sakis Rouvas. After his 16-year working relationship with Rouvas ended in 2004, Psinakis decided to manage his own entertainment career, later appearing as a judge on Greek television reality shows such as Super Idol, Dream Show, Greece, and You have Talent (Greek:Ελλάδα Έχεις Ταλέντο). During this time period, Psinakis continued to work as a manager for several singers and actors in Greece.[8][9]

Politics

City council

In 2010, Psinakis began his political involvement when elected to the Athens city council alongside Nikitas Kaklamanis. In addition to working to promote a favorable image of Athens in Greece and abroad, Psinakis initiated and supported the project "For a Plate of Food" designed to provide assistance to the poor in Athens. Organised in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Athens and the government organization "Apostoli", thousands of Athens' needy were provided free food and assistance.[10][11]

Mayor

Psinakis became a candidate for Mayor of the Municipality of Marathon in 2014. A resident there for more than twenty years at the time of his candidacy, the area's citizens elected him for the position in the first voting round on May 18, 2014 with 53.55% of the total vote.[12][13][14] Psinakis was sworn into office in August 2014. During his inauguration speech, the new mayor gave his vision for Marathon and the surrounding region that included a focus on transparency, meritocracy and development.[15]

On August 3, 2018, following the disastrous fires in the region, the municipal council of Marathon passed unanimously a resolution characterising Psinakis "undesirable", "incapable" and "extremely dangerous even to the physical health of the municipality's citizens", and demanding his resignation.[16] Psinakis refused to resign, characterising the action as planned unconstitutional procedure that is not provided for by law and has no legal precedent. According to him it only had purpose of "spoofing and anthropophagy". Instead of politicking, he urged to manage the consequences of this disaster in a climate of solidarity and joint effort.[17]

Projects and activities

In early 2015, Psinakis was appointed head of international public relations for the Central Union of Municipalities (KEDE).[18] In his association with the appointment, Psinakis has worked to return the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, to Greece from the British Museum in London.[19] Psinakis' other activities as mayor include participation in the Hellenic Parliament.[20][21]

In an effort to honor on Greek athletes, celebrities, philanthropists, entertainers, and other notable individuals internationally, Psinakis created the Medal of the Legion of Marathon in 2015.[22] In May of that year, Psinakis presented the first of this award to the President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos.[23] [24] Subsequent recipients of the award have been Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew,[25] Hollywood director James Cameron, Jim Gianopulos of 20th Century Fox, actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, and thirty-seven foreign ambassadors from around the world.[26][27] Recipients of the award are given the title "World Ambassador of Marathon".[28][29] [30]

Psinakis established the non-profit Marathon Foundation in order to further tourism, sports, and culture in the region as well as promote charitable events for the needy that provide food, water and medical care throughout Greece.[31][32]

In an effort to unite the various regions of Greece containing antiquities as well as historical and cultural landmarks, Psinakis established the Amphictyony of Ancient Greek Cities (Greek: Αμφικτυονία Αρχαίων Ελληνικών Πόλεων) in March 2016. Headquartered in Marathon, the focus of the association is protection and propagation of Greek cultural heritage and support of cultural interests. Since its inception, numerous municipalities in Greece have become member cities.[33][34][35][36][37][38][39]

In an effort to revitalize Marathon, Psinakis has worked with Greek and Chinese investors to create a Riviera-style attraction and international tourist destination. Part of Psinakis' plan for Marathon's future is constructing an entertainment center that includes a casino, marina, hotels, villas, and a golf course.[40][41][42] Additional plans by Psinakis for Marathon are for Marathon Lake, a park that would include boating as well as bike jogging trails paths.[43] In cooperation with the Regional Governor of Attica, the culture minister, and the mayor of Lavrio, Psinakis is also working on a scuba diving park that would be centered around the Evian Gulf.[44] Other efforts toward making his city a tourist destination include a trip made by Psinakis to China in May 2016, where he took part in investment negotiations for the construction of a history museum in Marathon.[45][46]

gollark: Maybe if I compress it manually a bit...
gollark: OH COME ON, this code is less than 2000 characters. Stupid DIsqord.
gollark: Clyde says `Your message could not be delivered because you don't share a server with the recipient or you disabled direct messages on your shared server, recipient is only accepting direct messages from friends, or you were blocked by the recipient.`. Stupid Clyde.
gollark: WAIT!
gollark: *the only interesting code I have is long*

References
  1. Administrator. "Δήμαρχος - Άρθρα". marathon.gr.
  2. "marathon.gr". marathon.gr.
  3. Eklogika. "Δήμαρχος Μαραθώνος, Ηλίας Ψινάκης, βιογραφικό" ("Marathon Mayor, Elias Psinakis, biography"). Retrieved 8 December 2016 (in Greek).
  4. "The most unconventional character in Greek show business became Athens' first municipal council". GRReporter.info. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  5. Municipality of Marathon. "Δήμαρχος: Ηλίας Ψηνάκης" ("Mayor: Ilias Psinakis"). Retrieved 8 December 2016 (in Greek).
  6. "Όταν ο Ηλίας Ψινάκης δούλευε ως μοντέλο..." newpost.gr. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  7. "Ηλίας Ψινάκης: Η άγνωστη ιστορία με τους... Απαράδεκτους - JoyTv". JoyTV. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  8. "Celebrities: Ηλίας Ψινάκης - yupiii.gr". yupiii.gr.
  9. "Ηλίας Ψινάκης". fthis.gr.
  10. ΓΙΑ ΟΣΟΥΣ ΔΕΝ ΕΧΟΥΝ ΟΥΤΕ ΤΑ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΟ ΖΗΝ Εκστρατεία Ψινάκη για «ένα πιάτο φαΐ» Πηγή: Εκστρατεία Ψινάκη για «ένα πιάτο φαΐ»
  11. ΓΡΗΓΟΡΗΣ ΜΕΛΑΣ. Ενα πιάτο γεμάτο αγάπη
  12. Ministry of Interior of Greece
  13. http://ekloges-prev.singularlogic.eu/may2014/dn/public/index.html Page of Municipal Elections in Greece
  14. Euthimis Tsiliopoulos. "Victors from the first round". The TOC In English.
  15. "Elias Psinakis is the Mayor of Marathon". protothema.gr.
  16. "Ομόφωνη απόφαση για παραίτηση του Ηλ. Ψινάκη". Εφημερίδα των Συντακτών.
  17. "Ψινάκης: Δεν παραιτούμαι, δεν μετέχω σε μια μεθοδευμένη αντισυνταγματική διαδικασία". Proto Thema.
  18. Pacific Press. "Ilias Psinakis the mayor of Marathon and the head of international..." Getty Images. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  19. "New demonstration for the return of the Parthenon marbles". The TOC In English.
  20. "Στην... πρώτη γραμμή Πατούλης, Καφαντάρης και Ψινάκης στη Βουλή (pics)". best-tv.gr. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  21. "Ο Ψινάκης, ο Μπουτάρης και το… κότερο!(ΦΩΤΟ)". karfitsa.gr. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  22. "ΔΕΙΤΕ:ο Ηλίας Ψινάκης εφηύρε το Παράσημο της Λεγεώνας του Μαραθώνα για να αναβαθμίσει τον Δήμο!". star.gr. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  23. "Συνάντηση στο Προεδρικό Μέγαρο. Ψινάκης σε Παυλόπουλο: Είσαι το πρώτο μέλος της λεγεώνας του Μαραθώνα". protothema.gr. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  24. "Ο Ψινάκης παρασημοφόρησε τον Πρόεδρο της Δημοκρατίας". ethnos.gr. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  25. "Ο Ηλίας Ψινάκης στο Φανάρι". antenna.gr. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  26. "Πρεσβευτές του Μαραθώνα". espressonews.gr. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  27. "Ο Ψινάκης φέρνει το Χόλιγουντ στο Μαραθώνα". nocomments.gr. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  28. "Ηλίας Ψινάκης: Παρασημοφόρησε 37 πρέσβεις σε μια εντυπωσιακή βραδιά στο Μαραθώνα!". Tlife.gr. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  29. "Mayor of Marathon honoured 37 foreign Ambassadors with the medal of the Legion of Marathon". thediplomat.gr. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  30. "Συνάντηση κορυφής Γιούνκερ – Ψινάκη!". news.gr. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  31. Μιχάλης Οικονομάκος. "Πρέπει να αναγεννήσουμε τη χώρα". we24.gr. Archived from the original on 25 November 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  32. "Marathon Foundation, official website". Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  33. "Αμφικτυονία Αρχαίων Δήμων με σύμπραξη προσωπικοτήτων από Ελλάδα και εξωτερικό". tovima.gr. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  34. "Στην Αμφικτυονία αρχαίων ελληνικών πόλεων ο Δήμος Ναυπλιέων". argolikeseidhseis.gr. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  35. "(Ξένη δημοσίευση) - ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ ΤΥΠΟΥ- ΥΠΟΥΡΓΕΙΟ ΕΣΩΤΕΡΙΚΩΝ & ΔΙΟΙΚΗΤΙΚΗΣ ΑΝΑΣΥΓΚΡΟΤΗΣΗΣ - Ο Υπουργός ΕΣΔΑ κ. Παναγιώτης Κουρουμπλής παραβρέθηκε σήμερα στην Τελετή Υπογραφής Πρωτοκόλλου Συνεργασίας για την ίδρυση Αμφικτυονίας Αρχαίων Ελληνικών Πόλεων". amna.gr. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  36. "Αμφικτυονία Αρχαίων Ελληνικών πόλεων με την υπογραφή Ηλία Ψινάκη!". 24wro.com.gr. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  37. "Αμφικτυονία Αρχαίων Ελληνικών Πόλεων: Συνεργασία μεταξύ Περιφερειών και Δήμων της Β. Ελλάδας". thestival.gr. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  38. "κατάλογος με τους Δήμους και τους Δημάρχους" (PDF). 24wro.com.gr. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  39. "Τί είναι η δημιουργία Αμφικτυονίας Αρχαίων Ελληνικών Πόλεων που υπέγραψαν Ψινάκης – Πετρόπουλος; (βίντεο)". aboutkastoria.gr. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  40. "Ελληνικό Λας Βέγκας στον Σχινιά ετοιμάζει ο Ηλίας Ψινάκης -Καζίνο, σπα και βίλες [εικόνες]". iefimerida.gr. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  41. Φώτης Κόλλιας. "Νέες ελπίδες για την "Αθηναϊκή Ριβιέρα"". m.euro2day.gr. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  42. "O Mαραθώνας μπορεί να γίνει Λας Bέγκας;". dealnews.gr. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  43. Κάσσι Φιλιππιτζή. "Ο Ηλίας Ψηνάκης μετατρέπει τη λίμνη Μαραθώνα σε... Σέντραλ Παρκ!". protothema.gr. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  44. "Scuba diving park of Archaeological Interest in Evian Gulf". portalgreece.gr. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  45. "Ο Ηλίας Ψηνάκης έφερε 400.000.000 δολάρια ΗΠΑ στον Μαραθώνα από την Κίνα". dimotisnews.gr. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  46. Μιχ Κα. "Ο Ψινάκης έφερε επενδύσεις 400 εκατ. δολάρια για το Μαραθώνα". iapopsi.gr. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
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