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Manolis GlezosGreek left-wing political activist, writer, symbol of the anti-fascist movement.
Date of Birth: 09.09.1922
Country:  Greece |
Content:
- Manolis Glezos: A Symbol of Resistance and Democratic Renewal
- Resistance against Occupation
- The Acropolis Flag
- Imprisonment and Torture
- Political Activism
- Continued Resistance
- Post-Dictatorship
- Local Experimentation
- Later Political Career
- Non-Political Contributions
- Literary Works
- Legacy
Manolis Glezos: A Symbol of Resistance and Democratic Renewal
Early Life and EducationManolis Glezos was born on the island of Naxos, Greece, in 1922. In 1935, his family moved to Athens, where he completed high school and worked in a pharmacy. In 1940, he enrolled in the Higher School of Economic and Commercial Studies (now the Athens University of Economics and Business).
Resistance against Occupation
During the Axis occupation of Greece, Glezos joined the Resistance movement at the age of 17. Despite his desire to fight on the front lines, his youth prevented him from enlisting in the Greek army. Instead, he became a member of the Greek Red Cross and the Athens Municipality while simultaneously engaging in underground activities.
The Acropolis Flag
On the night of May 31, 1941, Glezos and his comrade, Apostolos Santas, ascended the Acropolis and tore down the Nazi swastika flag that had been hoisted there. This bold act of defiance became a symbol of resistance against the occupation and inspired Greeks throughout the nation.
Imprisonment and Torture
The Nazis sentenced Glezos and Santas to death in absentia. In March 1942, Glezos was arrested and subjected to torture in prison, which resulted in him contracting tuberculosis. Released by the Nazis, he was rearrested by Italian occupation forces in 1943 but escaped after three months.
Political Activism
After the liberation of Greece, Glezos became the editor-in-chief of the Communist Party of Greece's newspaper, "Rizospastis." He was arrested and sentenced to death in 1948 and 1949, but public protests forced the government to commute his sentence to life imprisonment. While in prison, Glezos was elected to Parliament in 1951.
Continued Resistance
released in 1958, Glezos was re-arrested in 1961 on false charges of spying for the Soviet Union. He was elected to Parliament again in 1962, but his mandate was annulled. After the military coup of 1967, Glezos was imprisoned for four years.
Post-Dictatorship
With the restoration of democracy, Glezos revived the EDA party. He was elected to the Greek Parliament in 1981 and 1985 and served as a member of the European Parliament in 1984. In 1985, he became the leader of EDA, which merged with the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) in 1991.
Local Experimentation
In 1986, Glezos left the European Parliament to implement a project of direct democracy and socialist distribution in his home village of Apyranthos on Naxos. He successfully replaced the local government with a system of decision-making by all residents, resulting in the opening of a university, weather station, and four museums.
Later Political Career
Glezos led the electoral list of Synaspismos in the 2000 parliamentary elections. In 2002, he founded his own political party, Active Citizens. In 2004, he joined the Coalition of the Radical Left, which later became SYRIZA. He was elected to the European Parliament in 2014 but resigned shortly after.
Non-Political Contributions
In addition to his political activism, Glezos developed a system for flood prevention, erosion control, and groundwater conservation in Apyranthos. He is a geologist and environmentalist and has been honored by various scientific organizations.
Literary Works
Glezos is the author of over 25 published and unpublished books, including "History of the Book," "From Dictatorship to Democracy," and "National Resistance in 1940-1945."
Legacy
Manolis Glezos passed away in 2020 at the age of 98. He is remembered as a hero of the Resistance, a lifelong fighter for democracy, and a pioneer in local participatory governance.
