Jorgo Chatzimarkakis
Encyclopedia
Georgios Chatzimarkakis (born on 21 April 1966 in Duisburg
) is a German
politician
of Greek descent, Member of the European Parliament
with the Free Democratic Party of Germany (part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
).
. In 1993 he graduated as M.A. in political science
at the philosophical
faculty of the University of Bonn
. He supplemented his studies with a visiting research fellowship at the University of Oxford
under the auspices of Ralf Dahrendorf
in 1995. From 1993 to 1996 Chatzimarkakis worked as a science policy officer at the Bundestag
.
From 1996 to 1998, he was member of the planning department of the Foreign Office of Germany
. Chatzimarkakis held a lectureship at the University of Duisburg
from 1997 to 2001, during which time he also worked on his doctoral thesis on Informational Globalism - A cooperation model of global governance using the example of electronic commerce (Informationeller Globalismus - Kooperationsmodell globaler Ordnungspolitik am Beispiel des Elektronischen Geschäftsverkehrs ). In 2011 the University of Bonn
revoked his doctoral title. The committee charged him guilty of plagiarism in his thesis.
Chatzimarkakis is married and has two daughters.
council since 1995. From 2002 to 2010 he was secretary-general of the FDP regional association of the Saarland. He is a founding member of the Dahrendorfkreis, a wing of the FDP that advocates for sustainable liberalism
. After the FDP lost two regional elections in Rhineland-Palatinate
and Baden-Württemberg
, Chatzimarkakis was one of the main critics of the party leader Guido Westerwelle
.
Chatzimarkakis has been a member of the European Parliament since July 2004. He sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries
as well as on the Committee on Budgetary Control
, for which he is a coordinator. He also chairs the Delegation of the European Union to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. He is a supporter of the Spinelli Group
.
project VroniPlag
allegedly found several cases of plagiarism
in the thesis
. In May 2011 the University announced that it was investigating the claims at the request of Chatzimarkakis himself and on July 13 the University announced that the doctorate would be revoked after finding that more than half of the thesis was not correctly referenced. The Philosophical department of the university criticised that quotations marks were missing, but acknowledged that were footnotes. In a public speech, Chatzimarkakis criticized his then supervisors. He stated that already then they were aware that he was not correctly referencing. In one of the discussions on the crowd sourcing platform Vroniplag, a user stated that one should be aware that the university of Bonn was known for tolerating a "sluggish way of referencing.", giving an example of another sluggish PhD. In November 2011, the founder of VroniPlag, Martin Heidingsfelder, was excluded from the crowd sourcing project because he publicly insulted Chatzimarkakis as being Greek. Already in August 2011, Heidingsfelder has been criticized as being financially interested in VroniPlag because here secured the name rights for VroniPlag. Chatzimarkakis also accused Heidngsfelder of having financial interests. Heidingsfelder refuted the claim, but is also accused of his Social Democratic affiliation.
, Chatzimarkakis was managing director of the consultancy "polit data concept" and of the "Perl Academy". He is a founding member of the German-Greek Industrial Association (DHW) and was elected its president in 2004.
, wrote an article in the newspaper Die Welt
, explaining the possible benefits of a Greek bankruptcy for the rest of the Eurozone. Chatzimarkakis criticized his party leader as not supporting investors to engage in Greece. Rölser was heavily criticized by German media and major German politicians for his statement.
Duisburg
- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...
) is a German
Politics of Germany
The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal parliamentary republic, based on representative democracy. The Chancellor is the head of government, while the President of Germany is the head of state, which is a ceremonial role but with substantial reserve powers.Executive power is vested in the...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of Greek descent, Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
with the Free Democratic Party of Germany (part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is a transnational alliance between two European political parties: the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and the European Democratic Party. It has political groups in the European Parliament, the EU Committee of the Regions, the...
).
Education & Career
Chatzimarkakis was born and grew up in DuisburgDuisburg
- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...
. In 1993 he graduated as M.A. in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the philosophical
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
faculty of the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
. He supplemented his studies with a visiting research fellowship at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
under the auspices of Ralf Dahrendorf
Ralf Dahrendorf
Ralf Gustav Dahrendorf, Baron Dahrendorf, KBE, FBA was a German-British sociologist, philosopher, political scientist and liberal politician....
in 1995. From 1993 to 1996 Chatzimarkakis worked as a science policy officer at the Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
.
From 1996 to 1998, he was member of the planning department of the Foreign Office of Germany
Foreign Office (Germany)
The Foreign Office is the foreign ministry of Germany, a federal agency responsible for both the country's foreign politics and its relationship with the European Union. From 1871 to 1919, it was led by a Foreign Secretary, and since 1919, it has been led by the Foreign Minister of Germany...
. Chatzimarkakis held a lectureship at the University of Duisburg
University of Duisburg
-History:Its origins date back to the 1555 decision to create a university for the unified duchies at the Lower Rhine that were later to be merged into Prussia. After the foundation of an academic college in 1559, a university was founded in 1655 by Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, the...
from 1997 to 2001, during which time he also worked on his doctoral thesis on Informational Globalism - A cooperation model of global governance using the example of electronic commerce (Informationeller Globalismus - Kooperationsmodell globaler Ordnungspolitik am Beispiel des Elektronischen Geschäftsverkehrs ). In 2011 the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
revoked his doctoral title. The committee charged him guilty of plagiarism in his thesis.
Chatzimarkakis is married and has two daughters.
Political Activities
Chatzimarkakis is a member of the national executive committee of the FDP and of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform PartyEuropean Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party is a European political party mainly active in the European Union, composed of 56 national-level liberal and liberal-democratic parties from across Europe...
council since 1995. From 2002 to 2010 he was secretary-general of the FDP regional association of the Saarland. He is a founding member of the Dahrendorfkreis, a wing of the FDP that advocates for sustainable liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
. After the FDP lost two regional elections in Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate state election, 2011
The 2011 Rhineland-Palatinate state election was conducted on 27 March 2011 to elect all 101 members to the Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate. It was held by proportional representation with a 5% threshold...
and Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg state election, 2011
The Baden-Württemberg state election 2011, was held on March 27, 2011, to elect members to Baden-Württemberg's State diet, the Landtag of Baden-Württemberg in Stuttgart. It was the 14th state election since the foundation of Baden-Württemberg in 1952...
, Chatzimarkakis was one of the main critics of the party leader Guido Westerwelle
Guido Westerwelle
Guido Westerwelle [] is a German liberal politician, who, since 28 October 2009, has been serving as the Foreign Minister in the second cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel, and who was Vice Chancellor of Germany from 2009 to 2011. He is the first openly gay person to hold either of those positions...
.
Chatzimarkakis has been a member of the European Parliament since July 2004. He sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries
Committee on Fisheries
The Committee on Fisheries is a committee of the European Parliament. is the Chairman.-Members 2009 -:-Members 2004-2009:-External links:* *...
as well as on the Committee on Budgetary Control
Committee on Budgetary Control
-Responsibilities of the committee:As the name suggests, the CONT is the European Parliament committee charged with producing reports relating to the European Union's Budget.-Membership: Members of the Committee -External links:*...
, for which he is a coordinator. He also chairs the Delegation of the European Union to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. He is a supporter of the Spinelli Group
Spinelli Group
The Spinelli Group is a pro-European initiative that was founded with a view to reinvigorate the strive for federalisation of the European Union , by creating a network of citizens, think tanks, NGOs, academics, writers and politicians who support the idea of a federal and united Europe...
.
Plagiarism
In 2000 Chatzimarkakis received a doctor's degree at the University of Bonn. However the crowdsourcingCrowdsourcing
Crowdsourcing is the act of sourcing tasks traditionally performed by specific individuals to a group of people or community through an open call....
project VroniPlag
VroniPlag Wiki
The VroniPlag Wiki is a Wiki started 28 March 2011 at Wikia that examines and documents the extent of plagiarism in German doctoral theses.- History :...
allegedly found several cases of plagiarism
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined in dictionaries as the "wrongful appropriation," "close imitation," or "purloining and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions," and the representation of them as one's own original work, but the notion remains problematic with nebulous...
in the thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
. In May 2011 the University announced that it was investigating the claims at the request of Chatzimarkakis himself and on July 13 the University announced that the doctorate would be revoked after finding that more than half of the thesis was not correctly referenced. The Philosophical department of the university criticised that quotations marks were missing, but acknowledged that were footnotes. In a public speech, Chatzimarkakis criticized his then supervisors. He stated that already then they were aware that he was not correctly referencing. In one of the discussions on the crowd sourcing platform Vroniplag, a user stated that one should be aware that the university of Bonn was known for tolerating a "sluggish way of referencing.", giving an example of another sluggish PhD. In November 2011, the founder of VroniPlag, Martin Heidingsfelder, was excluded from the crowd sourcing project because he publicly insulted Chatzimarkakis as being Greek. Already in August 2011, Heidingsfelder has been criticized as being financially interested in VroniPlag because here secured the name rights for VroniPlag. Chatzimarkakis also accused Heidngsfelder of having financial interests. Heidingsfelder refuted the claim, but is also accused of his Social Democratic affiliation.
Other activities
Before his political career in the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, Chatzimarkakis was managing director of the consultancy "polit data concept" and of the "Perl Academy". He is a founding member of the German-Greek Industrial Association (DHW) and was elected its president in 2004.
Criticism
On Monday 12 September 2011, Vice Chancellor Philipp RöslerPhilipp Rösler
Philipp Rösler is a German politician, who, since 2011, has been the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology and the Vice Chancellor of Germany...
, wrote an article in the newspaper Die Welt
Die Welt
Die Welt is a German national daily newspaper published by the Axel Springer AG company.It was founded in Hamburg in 1946 by the British occupying forces, aiming to provide a "quality newspaper" modelled on The Times...
, explaining the possible benefits of a Greek bankruptcy for the rest of the Eurozone. Chatzimarkakis criticized his party leader as not supporting investors to engage in Greece. Rölser was heavily criticized by German media and major German politicians for his statement.