New Democracy MP Athanasios Kavadas has been selected to replace the resigning Makarios Lazaridis as Deputy Minister of Rural Development, as announced at noon on Monday by government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis.

It is noted that Mr. Kavadas is an MP for Lefkada.

His biography

Athanasios Kavadas was born and raised in Katochori, Lefkada, and is the father of two children.

He graduated from the School of Non-Commissioned Officers of the Air Force (STYA) in 1983 and holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy and Management from the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Economics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

From 1983 to 2006, he served in positions of responsibility in the Hellenic Air Force and retired as an officer.

In 1987, he founded the business “Kavadas Beverage Trade.” During the period 2006–2010, he served as president of the men’s basketball team “Doxa Lefkadas,” achieving, together with his associates, its promotion to the A2 National League. In 2010, in his first candidacy in municipal elections, he was elected top municipal councilor with the “Active Citizens” group.

Closing
During the years 2011–2014, he served as Vice President of the Lefkada Municipal Council. From 2013 to 2021, he held the position of Vice President of the Football Clubs Association of Preveza-Lefkada.

In the 2014 municipal elections, he was re-elected first in votes among all groups, and in January 2015 he ran for the first time in national elections.

In September 2015, he was elected MP for the first time, being the only New Democracy MP in the Ionian Islands region.

In 2016, he was named a regular member of the Air Academy of Greece.

During the period 2016–2019, he served as Deputy Secretary General of the Parliamentary Group.

He participated as a member in:

• The Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs
• The Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs
• The Special Permanent Committee on Road Safety
• The Special Committee on Armament Programs and Contracts

In July 2019, in the national elections, he was re-elected, doubling his preference votes compared to the January 2015 elections.

During that parliamentary term (2019–2023), he served as Vice President of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs.

He also participated as a member in:

• The Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs
• The Special Standing Committee on the State Budget and Financial Statement
• The Special Permanent Committee on Regions and Insular and Mountainous Areas

He has also served as Vice President of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Denmark and as a member of friendship groups with Australia, the United States, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Italy.

In the past, he also participated in parliamentary friendship groups with Cuba and Serbia.