Paul Geroulanos: PASOK’s “prince” who taught political culture and lost without defeat

“Anyone who believes in democracy, believes in result”. Eight words were enough for his , presidential candidate, to once again show his special quality weight, with which he has been going into politics for years. Although visibly moved – perhaps disappointed – he remained calm and disarming, cutting off any talk of “chrism” in the second round of the election for the appointment of President of PASOK. Showing that he does not function as team leader said Paul Geroulanos: “I don’t think the citizens who come to vote need to go in any direction. They don’t expect me to say about round two.” No bitterness, no spikes, no asterisks in his words. And if it had preceded one night – thriller, with the clip when to open and when to close in his favor. And if he missed the coveted ticket for round two, borderline on the thread. And let him win by state in the largest electoral tank, Attica. Paul Geroulanos taught political ethos, from beginning to the end of this race, closing his ears to the calls of opposing camps, to shift the conversation from politics to parapolitics. Urban origin and political background Paul Geroulanos, not “frozen” in politics, politics was written in his DNA. In its genealogical tree, moreover, the large urban fireplaces of modern Greece dominate, families who had active participation and shaped the public life of the last century. A descendant of the families of Benaki, Kalliga and Straight, the two traditional opposing areas meet in its descents: the conservative right and the progressive center. His father, Marinos Geroulanos, was a special secretary of King Paul and ceremonier of the former King Constantine. His mother was the granddaughter of Antonis Benakis , founder of the Benaki Museum and daughter of Paul Kalliga, henchman of Eleftherios Venizelos. “From my family I have always had contacts with all political venues. I chose the centre left,” Paul Geroulanos has said. “He doesn’t get letters” The 58-year-old politician did not content himself with what he inherited from his origins, but evolved into an autolight personality, both in business and politics. He studied at the London Hellenic College and then studied, Harvard and MIT. “I am dyslexic and at the Greek school they had me in the petamato. ‘’Good boy, but he doesn’t get letters’ told my parents. But then I went to America and there I was able to finish Harvard and MIT together. Then, I realized that every man learns differently” , he has said in an interview. While living in the U.S., he worked as financial manager in large companies and Alpha Finance and Barclays banks. His return to Greece in 1994 was decisive to save the family business, the Ichthyotrophy of Kefalonia, which was on the verge of bankruptcy. Eventually the company was saved, without any workers being fired. The political march For Paul Gerulano the door to politics opened paradoxically. Initially, more as a technocrat, he assumed the position of George Papandreou’s adviser, then foreign minister and was later appointed Secretary General of Greek Democracy, until 2004. He stayed next to George Papandreou, initially taking over his political office and then PASOK’s communication area, playing a decisive role in the 2009 election victory. So he entered the House for the first time, after being in fifth place of the State ballot. At the same time he was appointed Minister of Culture. PASOK’s 2012 election defeat kept Paul Gerulano out of Parliament, but remained a party soldier. In 2013 he was elected a member of the Central Committee and in 2019 claimed the municipality of Athens, as an official candidate of the party. In 2021 he claimed the party’s presidency and ranked fifth, while in 2023 he was elected MP in the first district of Athens. The losses In April 2023, and while the election campaign for the national election was at zenith, a major loss struck the door of the Geroulanou family. At the age of 65 the sister of Despina Geroulanou, the great lady of the Benaki Museum, left life. A few months later his mother, Emilia Geroulanou – Kalliga, a noted archaeologist, leaves his life, the woman who “lightened” the Benaki Museum. A unique son, among three sisters, Paul Gerulanos has said of his family women: “Powerful personalities, all have become such an integral part of my life, I can’t imagine how one could have grown up otherwise”. The wife and daughters In every step of his step, in every difficulty or obstacle, in every crucial decision, Paul Geroulanos has supported and counseled his wife, Lara Barazi, who lies timelessly and discreetly on his side. “We met at a party in America in the early ’90s. She had a beauty I had never seen before in my life,” she said about her. His two daughters Tatiana and Alexandra are the fruits of their relationship. “When our first daughter Tatiana arrived, I was at the Foreign Office. Three years later, our Alexandra came. We’re very good company. I sometimes think it’s nice to live at home with three women like when I was a kid.” In PASOK’s inner party poll, Paul Gerulanos was defeated, without being defeated. He emerged as a determining factor in maintaining a high level of political culture and morals and showed that he is the one who rallies and leads Attica, the region that “hurts” the party, for over 10 years. photos: Eurokinissi/NDP