Costas Karamanlis

In a conservative comeback that was expected but surprising in its size, Costas Karamanlis, 47, lead his New Democracy Party to a sweeping general election victory.

Karamanlis, a U.S.-educated lawyer, takes power just five months before the August Olympic Games, a massive security and logistics operation for which preparations are behind schedule.

His government faces a major foreign policy challenge in brokering a deal with Turkey to help reunite Greek and Turkish Cypriots before the island joins the European Union in May.

Karamanlis, the first modern Greek prime minister aged under 50, won the battle of the political dynasties, sending Socialist leader George Papandreou into opposition.

The Japan Times Weekly: March 13, 2003
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