Melbourne-based journalist Kostas Karamarkos has been appointed to the Secretariat of PASOK’s Diaspora Affairs Department, a key division within Greece’s Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). The announcement came as part of the party’s organisational restructuring, with Vasilis Voulgaris named as the department’s secretary.
Karamarkos, a well-known voice on diaspora and Greek community affairs, has previously worked in the political office of former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou (2006-2012). He also served as a Special Advisor to the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad from 1999 to 2004 under Dimitris Dollis and Pavlos Geroulanos.
His political engagement extends beyond Greece, having been active within Australia’s Labor Party in the 1990s, where he was elected to Victoria’s State Committees on National Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Defence.
Arriving in Australia as a teenager, Karamarkos studied History and Philosophy at the University of Melbourne. He has contributed to multicultural radio station 3ZZZ-92.3 FM and the English edition of Neos Kosmos. His articles continue to appear in Greek and diaspora publications, including Ethnos and Books’ Journal.
Karamarkos sees his appointment as an opportunity to broaden the relationship between Greece and the diaspora.
“I hope we can reignite PASOK’s commitment to diaspora policy, building on the foundation the party established from its first day in government. Together, we can deepen and expand Greece’s relationship with its diaspora in a way that meets the needs of 2025 and beyond,” Karamarkos said in a statement.
His involvement in PASOK’s Diaspora Affairs Department signals a renewed focus in Greece on strengthening ties between Greece and its expatriate communities.
