Stavros Kalafatis is the new Deputy Minister of Development responsible for the research and innovation designated by the decision of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Mr Kalafatis, is a member of the ND in Thessaloniki and was appointed Deputy Minister after the resignation of Aristos Doxiadis, just two days after the reshuffle and the day after his swearing -in.

Mr. Doxiadis had announced his resignation by posting on social media.

Who is the new Deputy Minister of Development Stavros Kalafatis

Stavros Kalafatis, who takes over the portfolio of the Deputy Minister of Development after Aristos Doxiadis’ resignation, has experience with government portfolios, and enjoys the prime minister’s confidence in his work.

Born in Thessaloniki on May 15, 1965, he is married, and father of a daughter and a son.

He was secretary of the New Democracy and Deputy Minister of Macedonia – Thrace and former Deputy Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change.

Studies

He graduated from the American College of Anatolia and studied at the Law School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where he graduated in 1988. He continued with postgraduate studies in International Relations (1991) and new postgraduate studies at the University of Merry.
Career

He has worked as a lawyer (since 1990), a media communication consultant (2000 – 2002) and a professor in IEK in Thessaloniki. During the period 1995 – 2000 he worked as an organization and communication consultant at PAOK PAE.

Political journey

In the 2000 parliamentary elections, he took a runner -up New Democracy MP in the First District of Thessaloniki. He was sworn in in 2003, replacing Panagiotis Psomiadis due to the assumption of the Prefecture of Thessaloniki, and has since been elected MP 8 times: 2004, 2007, 2009, May 2012, July 2012, January 2015, September 2015 and 2015.

In 2007 he was appointed responsible for the New Democracy Tourism Division, and in 2009 he was appointed responsible for the Transport and Communications Division in his party. In 2011 he was assigned the responsibility of the Energy and Natural Resources.

During the period 2001 – 2002 he was Vice President of the Thessaloniki Municipal Council. He was Deputy Minister of Development from 2007 – 2009 and Minister of Macedonia and Thrace in 2009.

On June 21, 2012, he was sworn in by the Minister of Deputy Environment, Energy and Climate Change, a position he remained until March 14, 2013. During his term he accepted a decision by the State Legal Council, which considered incompatible with the law to transfer urbanization to the Divine Liturgy. built since 1988. After a few months, Law 4178/2013 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was voted on. Environment, energy and climate change entitled “Treatment of Arbitrary Building”, which has legalized arbitrary buildings, including those belonging to the public or used as worship areas of well -known religions.

In the 2019 parliamentary elections, he was re -elected a member of the First Thessaloniki and then on a proposal by ND President Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the post of secretary of the New Democracy parliamentary group.

On January 5, 2021, Deputy Minister of Macedonia-Thrace was sworn in.

On March 21, 2025, by decision of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a new Deputy Minister of Development, responsible for research and innovation, was appointed.

In detail the resignation of Mr. Doxiadis:

“I decided to give up

The immoral war that the opposition launched against me, with non -existent attacks since the first day of my oath into government, has abruptly landed me in the harsh political reality.

To those who accused me of the APOLLON company case, I reply that I have been tried and acquitted by a criminal court in 2013, which explicitly dismissed me from any category that is related to what the opposition is charging me today. I add that once the court ended, I had no nuisance from any beginning, even though so many governments changed. Consequently, the treasure treasure.

Because I do not want to waste my life in such conflicts, I decided to resign from the position of Deputy Minister of Research and Innovation, both for reasons of personal calm and for the protection of the government and the portfolio I have taken from a witch hunt.
I would like to thank the prime minister for his honorable proposal for this portfolio that is so important to the future. I am sorry that political toxicity prevents active citizens from contributing to collective efforts for progress“