Angelica Panopoulos
Angelica Panopoulos is an Australian politician, and served as the Mayor of the City of Merri-bek council from November 2022 - November 2023. She is the youngest elected member of that council, having been elected as a Councillor at the age of 21, and Mayor at 23.[1][2][3]
Panopoulos was the Victorian Greens candidate for Pascoe Vale at the 2022 Victorian state election, narrowly losing to Anthony Cianflone.[4]
Angelica is a member of the Greek-Australian community.[5][6]
Mayoralty[edit]
As mayor, Panopoulos is known for her involvement in having discontinued citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.[7] Following this decision, the council was targeted by racist extremists.[8] She was also involved in renaming the Merri-Bek council from its previous name, the city of Moreland.[9]
In May 2023, her council's resolutions were overruled by Victoria's planning minister in order to green-light apartment development.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ Herald, The Greek (30 November 2022). "Angelica Panopoulos elected youngest Mayor of Merri-bek City Council". The Greek Herald. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ "Panopoulos: new 23 year old Mayor of Merri-bek (Moreland)". Neos Kosmos. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ Phillips, Mark (29 November 2022). "Panopoulos elected youngest Mayor in city's history". Brunswick Voice. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ Sciberras, Allanah (27 November 2022). "'Greens-slide': Greens Leader takes victory of key inner-Melbourne seats". Nine.com.au. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
There was also major movement in the seat of Pascoe Vale, while the seat was retained by Labor MP Anthony Cianflone, it was nearly taken by Greens candidate Angelica Panopoulos.
- ^ Kastelloriou, Stergos (14 October 2020). "Angelica Panopoulos: Our community must be rebuilt after COVID". SBS Greek (Podcast). Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Victorian Greens support recognition of genocide of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians". Neos Kosmos. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
There are at least two Greek Australians candidates representing Victorian Greens in the upcoming election: Angelica Panopoulos running for the seat of Pascoe Vale and Kim Samiotis for Albert Park.
- ^ "'January 26 not the right date to celebrate': Angelica Panopoulos". Neos Kosmos. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ Timms, Hugo (26 January 2023). "Extremists storm Merri-bek First Nations mourning ceremony". News.com.au. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
Merri-bek City Council, formerly Moreland, was targeted by protesters on Thursday morning who have been described by the city's mayor as "racist extremists".
- ^ Voutos, John (14 December 2021). "Greek Australian councillors vote in move to change 'racist' Moreland council name". The Greek Herald. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ Waters, Cara (25 May 2023). "Minister approves Brunswick development that will swallow heritage-listed substation". The Age. Retrieved 13 July 2023.