Political parties are once again turning their attention to military figures, approaching former chiefs of the Armed Forces — specifically Konstantinos Floros and Fragoulis Fragos. Both men remain publicly silent regarding their possible inclusion on the New Democracy party ballots, yet sources persistently indicate that Floros, honorary Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA), will be included on the party’s national list.
Floros first entered the political spotlight in 2024, around the time of his retirement. He had received an offer to stand on New Democracy’s European Parliament ballot but deemed the timing inappropriate, having only just stepped down from active duty. The candidacy of Fredi Beleri — the then-imprisoned mayor of Himara — also played a role in his decision. Floros has been a vocal and consistent supporter of Beleri, participating in his events and increasingly appearing alongside him at New Democracy gatherings.
New Democracy: Floros and Fragos in the party’s sights
Beyond that, Floros’s frequent public interventions on Greek-Turkish relations and other international affairs have been closely aligned with the government’s official positions. Throughout his four-year tenure, he played a decisive role in strengthening the country’s defence posture, addressing genuine military procurement needs, and shaping operational planning.
His direct lines of communication with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs remain open. Known simply as “the commander,” Floros holds strong administrative credentials and advanced academic training in strategic analysis and crisis management. He spent the majority of his military career in Special Forces and frontline units, participating on multiple occasions in missions within active conflict zones. The stance of veterans’ associations and military peer organizations will also carry significant weight in any final decision.
The key issues
Protest rallies, the large-scale demonstrations of last October and November, and the backlash from active-duty officers and non-commissioned officers over pay and promotion grievances are matters of particular concern to both Floros and Fragos. Fragoulis Fragos, honorary Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff (GES), is distinguished by his integrity, academic expertise, and high sense of national duty. He has long championed what he describes as “patriotic conservatism” — a stance that has led New Democracy insiders to approach him about standing on the party’s ballot.
His doctoral dissertation — in which he argues that Turks are of Greek origin and that numerous crypto-Christian communities exist throughout Turkey — was published as a book in 2012 under the supervision of Professor Yannis Mazis, one of former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s closest associates and head of the “Initiative of the 90,” a group calling on the ex-premier to return to frontline politics.
What happened during the 2012 caretaker government
During the caretaker government of 2012 — the interim administration formed between the May and June elections — Fragos served as acting Minister of Defence at the suggestion of Samaras. His relationship with Samaras remains close, as does his rapport with Kostas Karamanlis. According to sources, he has recently been approached by both sides. He remains hesitant, however, partly because several years ago it was reported that he would head the national list of the Greek Solution party — a claim he publicly denied. At present, he is in communication with New Democracy, and it would not be surprising to see him on the party’s ballot in Thessaloniki.
The tradition of former military chiefs entering politics
Should Floros and Fragos ultimately enter politics, they would join a well-established tradition of former senior military commanders who, in the post-junta democratic era, have contributed to the safeguarding of the constitutional order, democratic institutions, and national positions through their parliamentary presence. Current figures with military backgrounds include independent MP Evangelos Apostolakis (former Chief of GEETHA), Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ev. Tournas (former Chief of the Hellenic Air Force), the Civil Governor of Mount Athos Alkiviades Stefanis (former Chief of GES), and the long-serving MP for Evros Tasos Dimoschaкis (former Chief of the Hellenic Police).
Those with a naval background
From the Navy’s senior ranks, both Deputy Minister of Shipping Stefanos Gikas and MP Dionysis Chatzidakis hold the rank of commodore. Panagiotis Chinofotis, a former Chief of GEETHA, served as Deputy Minister of Public Order under Kostas Karamanlis. Meanwhile, Konstantinos Karamanlis, during the 1974–1976 period, appointed General Solon — a former Chief of GES — as Minister of Public Order, thereby establishing firm civilian oversight of the security forces. Andreas Papandreou followed a similar approach, placing Lieutenant General Antonis Drosogiannis — creator of Greece’s special operations units — in the Ministries of Defence and Public Order. A particularly prominent position in Papandreou’s governments was held by Colonel Yannis Haralambopoulos, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Published in Parapolitika
