Petros Efthymiou

Until 1979, he worked as a teacher of the Greek language in secondary education, as well as a journalist and editor for the party's Agonistis youth magazine and the Sosialistiki Poreia weekly newspaper.

From 1986 to 1999, he worked as political editor at the To Vima daily, and also as a talk show host for the NET public television network (1994–1999) and as a visiting lecturer at the Panteion University in 1994-95.

At the 1999 European election he was elected to the European Parliament, serving until 11 April 2000, being a member in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy and the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, Media and Sports.

Subsequently, and until PASOK's electoral defeat in March 2004, he occupied the post of Minister of National Education and Religious Affairs.

Also he was elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (O.S.C.E), in Oslo in July 2010.