Mr Nikos Chardalias
Governor of Attica, The Greater Athens Region
My political journey began in 2003, when I was first elected as Mayor of Vyronas, a neighboring municipality to Athens city of 59.134 inhabitants, while serving in office for three consecutive terms (2003-2012). This experience was fundamental in molding my perception of the day-to-day operations of local government. During my mandate, I had the honor to serve as President of the Union for the Protection and Development of Hymettus Mountain – SPAY (2003-2014), and Chairman of the Civil Protection Committee of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece - KEDE (2006-2012). This background has equipped me with decisive technical knowledge to advocate for policies such as regional sustainability, environmental protection and crisis management. Furthermore, from 2014 to 2019, I was elected as Regional Councilor of the Attica Region, while serving as the Executive Secretary of the Region of Central Greece (2014-2016).
In 2019, after a personal invitation made by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, I transitioned to central government when I was appointed Secretary General for Civil Protection. In March 2020, during the outburst of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, I assumed the role of Deputy Minister of Civil Protection and Crisis Management and I was designated as head of the national task force (ministerial committee). Subsequently, I coordinated the national response to the pandemic, facilitating the proper distribution of medical supplies, as well as overseeing the implementation of lockdown measures. This unprecedented crisis underpinned the critical importance of coordination between all government levels in times of emergency.
Furthermore, from 2021 to 2023, I held the position of Deputy Minister of National Defense and Security. During my tenure, I was responsible for overseeing national defense policies and managing military resources, as head of the national military operations during the Sudan crisis, the Ukrainian war and the Turkish-Libyan crisis. Additionally, I participated in EU Council Ministerial Meetings, engaging in ongoing dialogues with fellow EU Ministers to protect Greece's strategic interests and contribute to regional stability.
In 2023, following a personal invitation by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, I was elected as Governor of the Attica Region in the first round, receiving 46.74% of the total votes. Attica is a coastal regional area, producing 48% of the national GDP, hosting 42% of employment positions, while accommodating over 4.000.000 citizens, representing 45% of the total Greek population.
A year into my tenure as Governor of the Attica Region, I was elected 1st Vice President to the EPP Group in the European Committee of the Regions. This position allows me to participate decisively in the process of policy making regarding sustainable regional development, furthering cohesion policies and empowering resilience among the diverse areas within the EU.