Xenophon Zolotas

Xenofón Efthymíou Zolótas (Greek: Ξενοφών Ευθυμίου Ζολώτας, March 26, 1904 – June 11, 2004) was a Greek economist.

Biography

Born in Athens in 1904, Zolotas was the son of a family of goldsmiths with roots in pre-revolutionary Russia. He studied economics at the University of Athens, then in Leipzig and Paris. In 1928 he was professor of economics at the University of Athens, a position he held until 1968, when he resigned in protest of the military regime that came to power in 1967. Zolotas was governor of the Bank of Greece between 1944-1945, and between 1955-1967 (when he resigned in protest against the regime), and between 1974-1981. He worked for the International Monetary Fund. He published many works on Greek and international economic affairs. They considered him a moderator, a champion of fiscal conservatism and monetary stability. In the November 1989 elections, which did not give a majority to Andreas Papandreou's PASOK party or Constantinos Mitsotakis's New Democracy party, Zolotas, at the age of 85, agreed to be prime minister of a non-party government until new elections could be held. give a stable majority for the country. He resigned when elections were held in April 1990 which Mitsotakis won by a narrow majority. He worked long hours. He was an avid swimmer, also during the winter, being punctual in this sport every morning throughout the year even into his nineties.

Predecessor: Ioannis Grivas

Prime Minister of Greece 1989-1990

Successor: Constantine Mitsotakis