Athanasios Tsouhantaris, a well-known Greek-Australian entrepreneur based in Melbourne, has been named as a New Democracy candidate for the 9 June European elections.
When approached by Neos Kosmos for a comment back in November 2023, Tsouhantaris avoided making any statements, saying that “Announcements will be made by the party in due course.”
Tsouhantaris had been received at the Maximos Mansion by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis where they discussed matters concerning the Greek diaspora in Australia.
His reflects an ongoing effort by New Democracy to engage with the Greek community abroad and strengthen its representation in European institutions.
The party’s announcement said:
“New Democracy announces the first 28 names of candidates for the European Elections on June 9th:
Michalis Aggelopoulos, Lawyer, President of the Scientific Council of KEDE, former Mayor of Samos
Vanessa Archontidou, Communication Specialist, Ambassador of the European Climate Pact
Eliza Vozemberg, MEP
Pyrrhos Dimas, Olympic champion, Vice-President of the World Weightlifting Federation
Noni Dounia, former Member of Parliament for Piraeus and the Islands, presenter
Thanasis Exadaktylos, President of the Panhellenic Medical Association, Plastic Surgeon
Spyros Karanikolas, Lawyer, Doctor of European Law
Dimitris Katsaounis, Business Consultant, Expat from Canada
Manolis Kefalogiannis, MEP
Vasilis Kontozamanis, Health Advisor to the Prime Minister, former Deputy Minister of Health
Olga Kouri-Kalergi, Obstetrician-Gynecologist
Maria-Oraiozili Koutsoumpia, Lawyer in Brussels and Athens
Pisti Krystallidou, Secretary of Volunteering of New Democracy, Public Servant, Attikon Hospital
Stelios Kypouropoulos, MEP
Vangelis Meimarakis, MEP, former President of New Democracy
Giorgos Blioumis, Honorary Chief of Hellenic Air Force, Wing Commander ret
Nikos Naoumis, Political Scientist, Author
Orestis Omran, International Lawyer, Expat from Brussels
Voula Patoulidou, Deputy Regional Governor of Thessaloniki (Region of Central Macedonia), Olympic champion
Vasilios Sakellaris, Deputy Secretary-General of the Youth of the European People’s Party, Secretary of International Relations of ONNED, Business Executive, Expat from the United Kingdom
Sotiris Serbos, Associate Professor of International Politics at the Democritus University of Thrace
Maria Spiraki, MEP
Lydia-Antonia Trakatelli, PhD in Archaeology
Dimitris Tsiotras, Press Office Director of the Prime Minister
Arthur Tsouhantaris, Entrepreneur, Expat from Australia, President of NODE Australia
Vicky Flessa, Journalist, Classic Philologist
Niobe Christopoulou, Greek-American, Lawyer in Athens and New York
Evie Christofilopoulou, Professor of Political Science, former Member of Parliament for Attica, former Deputy Minister of Education, former Deputy Minister of Administrative Reform and e-Governance”.