Kolettes, Ioannis

Kolettes, Ioannis (yō-ä`nēs kôlĕt`ās), 1773–1847, Greek political leader. A major political figure both during and after the Greek War of Independence. His cynical, opportunistic policies while premier (1844–47) helped establish the unidealistic, patron-client tone of much of modern Greek politics. His great emphasis on the territorial expansion of Greece also helped divert attention from problems of internal development.