Konstantina Kouneva

Konstantina Kouneva (Greek: Κωνσταντίνα Κούνεβα, born 28 September 1964), also known as Kostadinka Kuneva (Bulgarian: Костадинка Кунева), is a Bulgarian immigrant in Greece, trade unionist and secretary of the Greek Trade Union of Cleaners and Housekeepers.[1] She was elected as an MEP in the 2014 European Parliament elections.

Konstantina Kouneva
Member of the European Parliament
Assumed office
25 May 2014
Personal details
Born (1964-09-28) 28 September 1964
Silistra, Bulgaria
NationalityBulgarian & Greek
Political partySYRIZA
Childrenone son
ResidencePetralona, Greece
Alma materSt. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo

Attack and reactions

Kouneva was working as a cleaner for the Oikomet company (providing services to ISAP, among other clients, through outsourcing). She was attacked with sulfuric acid (vitriol) on 22 December 2008 and swallowed some of the acid because of her shock reaction. It was previously believed that she had been forced to swallow the acid by the attacker but that was false. She lost the sight in one eye and suffered internal organ damage as a result of the attack,[2][3] an event which sparked protests[4] and clashes with the Greek police during the 2008 civil unrest in Greece.[5]

The protests, which included banners reading "Konstandinka, you're not alone", continued at least until 22 January 2009 and numbered 3,000 people, with tear gas being used by the MAT police forces.[6]

The attack was described as the most severe assault on a trade unionist in Greece in 50 years.[1]

Education

Kouneva graduated from the St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo with a degree in History.[7]

Politics

She was elected to the European Parliament as a candidate of the left-wing SYRIZA party in the European Parliament election held on 25 May 2014.[8]

References
  1. "Kuneva case – the most severe assault on trade unionist in Greece for 50 years". FOCUS Information Agency.
  2. IHT
  3. http://news.in.gr/greece/article/?aid=970755
  4. "Konstantina Kouneva more soli acts + Galeano & Einstein - Industrial Workers of the World". iww.org.au. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009.
  5. "Protesters clash with riot police over acid attack on syndicalist cleaner in Athens". libcom.org.
  6. Nick Squires (23 January 2009). "Athens erupts in violence after acid attack on immigrant". Telegraph.co.uk.
  7. "Τα βιογραφικά των υποψήφιων ευρωβουλευτών του ΣΥΡΙΖΑ" (in Greek). Αυγή. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  8. "Ποια είναι η Κωνσταντίνα Κούνεβα" (in Greek). επτά ημέρες. 27 May 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
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