Background
He was born at Melissourgoi, a village outside Arta, Epirus in 1942.
He was born at Melissourgoi, a village outside Arta, Epirus in 1942.
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
He went on to study law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He worked as a lawyer in Arta. He was reelected in 1981 and 1985.
He was then elected as an Member of Parliament for northern Athens.
Tsovolas served in the Ministry of Finance in Andreas Papandreou"s government from 1981 to 1989, serving as a deputy minister from 1981 to 1985, and as the full Minister of Finance from 1985 to 1989. In 1989 he was tried for the so-called Koskotas scandal and was sentenced to 2 years in prison and 3 years lack of his political rights.
In October 1995 he left Panellinion Socialistikon Kinema (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) and on 20 December that year he founded the Democratic Social Movement. He was awarded the highest Order of the FRY from Slobodan Milosević on 11 December 1999.
He later began his career in politics as a member of Panellinion Socialistikon Kinema (Panhellenic Socialist Movement). He was first elected member of the Parliament representing Arta in 1977.