European economic meeting inspired by Eurogroup proceedings.
In the 2023 elections he became the top voted MP of New Democracy in Athens A. He was then appointed Minister of Education, where he played a decisive role in enabling the operation of private universities in Greece, a move that strengthened his political profile.
On 15 March 2025 he became Minister of Finance, succeeding Kostis Hatzidakis. Even within a short timeframe he placed strong emphasis on tax reduction policies. His approach gained him significant credibility among Eurogroup finance ministers, including former president Paschal Donohoe, who was widely said to have supported his candidacy for the Eurogroup presidency.
The Meaning of His Election at the Eurogroup Helm
Pierrakakis’s ascent to Eurogroup President has strong symbolic weight. The fact that the finance minister of a country once considered a weak link in the eurozone now holds one of Europe’s most powerful economic positions marks a turning point for Greece.
His new position grants him influence over European economic governance, particularly in crisis management. Former Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos noted that Greece served as an economic laboratory for the development of mechanisms addressing crises across Europe, stating that it gave Europe tools that did not exist in the original EU treaties.
Conceptual illustration representing Greece’s role in the European Union.
The country’s experience now equips Pierrakakis with arguments to push for greater flexibility and new instruments for European growth. Greece stands to benefit from these developments, while Pierrakakis himself is expected to gain further political momentum.
At 42 he is already viewed as one of the leading potential successors to Mitsotakis. His successful term at the Eurogroup could accelerate this trajectory, placing him firmly among Greece’s rising political figures.
