Τη ζωή και το έργο του ειρηνιστή πολιτικού της Αριστεράς Γρηγόρη Λαμπράκη, θα έχουν την ευκαιρία να γνωρίσουν όσοι βρεθούν στο Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο και την αίθουσα “Main Hall Gallery – Emilio Colombo” του LOW building στο Στρασβούργο, από σήμερα και έως την Πέμπτη 14 Μαρτίου. Την έκθεση εις μνήμην του μεγάλου Έλληνα πολιτικού, γιατρού και αθλητή, που εξύμνησε την Ειρήνη και τη Δημοκρατία και το πλήρωσε με τη ζωή του, διοργανώνει ο Έλληνας ευρωβουλευτής της Ελιάς Νίκος Ανδρουλάκης, σε συνεργασία με το Ίδρυμα Λαμπράκης, υπό την αιγίδα της Ευρωομάδας των Σοσιαλιστών και Δημοκρατών και του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου.

Στην τελετή έναρξης, που θα πραγματοποιηθεί αύριο Τρίτη 12 Μαρτίου στις πέντε το απόγευμα, θα μιλήσουν ο ευρωβουλευτής της Ελιάς Νίκος Ανδρουλάκης, ο Ευρωπαίος Επίτροπος Δημήτρης Αβραμόπουλος, ο ευρωβουλευτής του Ποταμιού Μίλτος Κύρκος και ο γιος του αείμνηστου πολιτικού Γρηγόρης Λαμπράκης εκπροσωπώντας το «Ίδρυμα Λαμπράκη».

Ή έκθεση που θα διαρκέσει από τις 11 έως τις 14 Μαρτίου φιλοξενεί σπάνια ντοκουμέντα για τη ζωή του Γρηγόρη Λαμπράκη, μέσα από τα αρχεία της Αστυνομίας και της Εθνικής Υπηρεσίας Ασφάλειας, από την εποχή που υπήρξε μέλος του ΕΑΜ, ως την συμμετοχή του στην Παγκόσμια Κίνηση Ειρήνης και την καριέρα του ως πολιτικός, αθλητής και γιατρός που πάσχιζε για το δικαίωμα των φτωχότερων στην θεραπεία. Να σημειωθεί ότι ο φάκελός του ήταν «απόρρητος» έως το 2016

Grigoris Lamprakis (1912-1963) was a Greek doctor, athlete and politician and had an active and intense role as member of the Greek Resistance to Axis rule during WWII. After WWII, Lamprakis completed his medical studies and worked as a lecturer in the Department of gynaecology. He continued to help the poor by running a small private clinic for patients who were unable to afford medical care. While not a communist, Lamprakis' political and ideological orientation leaned towards the left. He was actively involved in the pacifist movement of his time. He ran and got elected as independent Member of the Greek Parliament, and shortly started collaborating with the United Democratic Left (UDL), the only legal left-wing political party in the country following the Greek civil War of 1946–1949.

In 1961, under his initiative, the Greek Committee for International Détente and Peace (EDYE) was established by UDL. In his capacity as Vice President, he participated in international pacifist meetings and demonstrations despite frequent threats against his life. UDL had ceded Lamprakis full freedom to represent the Commission and he soon emerged as its most articulate and determined leader. On 21 April 1963, the pacifist movement in Greece organized the First Pacifist Rally from Marathon to Athens. The police intervened, banned the rally and arrested many demonstrators. Lamprakis, protected by his parliamentary immunity, marched alone and arrived at the end of the rally holding the banner with the peace symbol. For that reason and as he was athlete himself, the "Athens Marathon" which follows the authentic root, is dedicated to his memory.

On 22 May 1963, shortly after he had delivered the keynote speech at an anti-war meeting in Thessaloniki, two far-right extremists, struck Lamprakis with a club over the head in plain view of a large number of people and some police officers. He suffered brain injuries and died in the hospital five days later, on 27 May. The next day, in Athens, his funeral turned into a massive demonstration.

The assassination of Grigoris Lamprakis inspired the Greek writer and diplomat Vasilis Vasilikos to write the political novel “Z” based on which some years later Kostas Gavras directed the homonymous film. The title “Z” stands for the first letter of the Greek word "ZEI" (lives), a popular slogan of that period illustrating the growing protest against the conditions that led to Lamprakis assassination.

In this exhibition, we can see the life of Grigoris Lamprakis and his fight for democracy and peace, through the records of the Police and National Security Services. As a member of the communist leaning National Liberation Front group (EAM) during the German Occupation of Greece and his participation to the International Pacifist Movement, he was closely followed by the Security Services of that era.

His file was classified as "Top Secret" until 2016.


MEP Nikos Androulakis in close collaboration with Lambrakis’ Foundation took the initiative to present the file of Grigoris Lambrakis at the European Parliament in order to commemorate our national symbol of peace and democracy.