Panagiotis Kouroumplis
Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy

Born in Aetoloakarnania in 1951, Panagiotis Kouroumplis holds a Law degree and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Athens.

At age 10 he lost his eyesight from the explosion of a German hand-grenade, a remnant of WW II. After attending the School for the Blind in Athens, he became a pioneer of the Greek disability rights movement and was the first blind person to be elected member of the Hellenic Parliament, serving with PASOK (1996-2004, 2009-2011) and with SYRIZA (2012 – to date).

He has previously held office as General Secretary for Welfare in the Ministry of Health, Minister of Health, and Minister of Interior and Administrative Reconstruction. Since November 2016 he holds the position of Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy.

Having received several awards for his achievements both in Greece and abroad, Panagiotis Kouroumplis often cites his own disability to encourage the young to become masters of their own fate. He is married with two children.