He was a moderate conservative and served as foreign minister during Alexandros Papagos' government.

He even served as acting Prime Minister for a day after the latter's death on 4 October 1955.

[1]: 331 On 17 September 1965, he became Prime Minister of Greece during the period of the "Apostasia", supported by conservatives and defecting members of the Centre Union party.

Unable to gain a parliamentary vote of confidence, his government fell on 22 December 1966.

He tried to make a comeback into politics by forming a right-wing party but did not succeed in being elected in 1977.