Charilaos Trikoupis (1832-1896) was the leading modernizing politician of the 19th century Greek State. He ruled the country for almost 10 years, leaving behind important infrastructure projects.
Born on July 11, 1832 in Nafplio, then capital of the modern Greek State, he was one of the most important political figures in the history of Greece.
Trikoupis served seven times and for a total of ten years he was prime minister of Greece. Despite extremely complicated and unfavorable conditions, he was the man who laid the foundations for the modernization of the Greek State, which was then going through its first decades of autonomy.
As journalist and writer Marios Ploritis wrote, “Trikoupis first became Minister of Foreign Affairs at the age of 34 (1866), only to resign a year later, disagreeing with King George I, because the minister supported the Cretan Revolution, which the king disapproved of.”
Eight years later, he would write the famous articles “Who is to blame?” and “Past and Present”, where he denounced the royal unconstitutional arbitrariness, and was imprisoned for his “crime”.
However, a few months later, he was appointed prime minister by King George I and became the “architect of parliamentary democracy” establishing the principle of the parliamentary majority.
Trikoupis elected prime minister
Charilaos Trikoupis was elected prime minister for the first time in April 1875. Ploritis describes the state of Greece at the time: “When Trikoupis became prime minister, Greece had, of course, been an independent state for 45 years. But the state of things, its situation was anything but prosperous. Economically, politically, administratively, it remained a “third world country” (we would say today) and with a supreme ruler, constantly trampling on the Constitution that he had sworn to withhold”.
Trikoupis was very critical of the Palace. He accused the Crown for trampling on the Constitution and downgrading the role of the parliament. He said that Greece was actually governed as an absolute monarchy, bringing a general paralysis of the state. He remained unwaveringly faithful to constitutional procedures and the rule of the parliamentary majority.
As prime minister, Trikoupis’ concerns and activities covered all areas of public life, aiming at the development of the economic, political, and cultural life of the country and the completion of major public works that would “Europeanize” the “stagnant state.”
He was a keen orator, although his speeches were mostly dry and technocratic. However, when he was in the mood, his humor was biting, causing smiles in parliament while he himself had difficulty holding back his laughter.
Major public works
Charilaos Trikoupis ushered Greece in the group of advanced European nations with major public works such as the building of railroads and extensive road construction. His most important public work was the opening of the Corinth Canal that connected the Corinthian Gulf with the Saronic Gulf, and the Peloponnese with Central Greece, a project that facilitated trade and increased public revenues. He reorganized and strengthened the army and the navy, whose poor condition was the main reason for the lack of power to assert national territorial claims that were brought to the surface by the Russo-Turkish War.
Το strengthen the armed forces he ordered the construction of three battleships that made Greece a naval power in the Eastern Mediterranean. The concession of the opening of the Corinth Canal to the French syndicate of Tyre was one of Trikoupis’ most important decisions. In general, he infused a spirit of construction and renovation to modernize Greece.
But this effort by Trikoupis required heavy and unusual financial sacrifices. The people, especially the most conservative, began to question the government and express their reservations. Thus, in the elections of 7 April 1885, Trikoupis lost by a landslide and in the new Parliament he had only 60 deputies.
“Unfortunately, we are bankrupt”
Trikoupis’ sixth turn in office (June 22, 1892 – May 15, 1893) was a dramatic one. Greece’s treasury had been depleted by overspending and systemic corruption often caused by costly political campaigns in which every party promised massive spending programs. The prime minister stood before parliament and made the most famous statement of his career: “Unfortunately, we are bankrupt”(“Δυστυχώς επτωχεύσαμεν“). The servicing of foreign loans was suspended, and all non-essential spending was cut. Trikoupis tried to borrow from foreign states but to no avail.
The ambitious prime minister came back to power on November 11, 1893 until January 24, 1895. It was during that time that the planning for the 1896 Summer Olympics had begun. Trikoupis was skeptical about the games as he feared that the country could not shoulder the cost. He was convinced, eventually, to host them and made the needed arrangements. This would be his last term in office.
Some historians have doubted that the famous “Unfortunately, we are bankrupt” phrase was said in parliament. They argue that something to that effect was said during recess between himself and his lawmakers. Some argue that it was manufactured as a yellow newspaper headline. Nevertheless, the phrase continues to be part of Charilaos Trikoupis’ legacy.
The end of his career came in 1895, when he was soundly defeated in the April election. As Marios Ploritis wrote, “he chose silence and exile as his companion” in Cannes, where he died the following year, “deeply regretting that he was dying in a foreign land,” as he muttered shortly before his end. His victors largely dismantled what he had built – leading the country to the shameful defeat of the 1897 Greco-Turkish War.”
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