Gabriel Katopodis

Gabriel Katopodis (; born 6 March 1967) is an Argentine lawyer and politician, who served as the country's Minister of Public Works from 2019 to 2023, in the cabinet of President Alberto Fernández. From 2011 to 2019, Katopodis was intendente (mayor) of General San Martín, a partido in the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area.

Since 2023, he has served as Minister of Public Works of Buenos Aires Province, under Governor Axel Kicillof.

Early life and education Gabriel Katopodis was born in 1967 in the uptown Buenos Aires neighborhood of Belgrano to a family of Greek background. He studied law at the University of Buenos Aires and became involved in political activism through his work in poor neighbourhoods of the Buenos Aires Province.

He has a postgraduate degree in public management from FLACSO and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Buenos Aires School of Economics.

In 2007 he ran for the mayoralty of General San Martín, losing in the primaries against incumbent mayor Ricardo Ivoskus.

Intendencia of General San Martín In 2011, Katopodis ran for the mayoralty of San Martín for a second time, this time against Daniel Ivoskus, the incumbent mayor's son. Katopodis won in an upset victory by just 7 percentage points. He ran under the Frente Social ticket, aligning himself to the ruling Front for Victory.

Katopodis was re-elected for a second term in 2015, this time beating former mayor Ricardo Ivoskus. Noteworthy achievements of his second term in the mayoralty include the inauguration of a municipality-run safe space for women fleeing gender-based violence in 2018, and the inauguration of the Metrobus North Line on Route 8 in 2019.

In 2019 he ran for a third term, this time on the Frente de Todos ticket, and was elected with 54.85% of the popular vote, becoming the most voted mayor in the history of General San Martín.

In 2020 he denounced that the previous administration had amassed a $ 35,000-million debt on public works, and up to 60% of all ongoing works were completely paralyzed. Katopodis stated that due to the accumulated debt, the ministry's priorities would be federal integration, job creation, and the completion of ongoing works.

Following the end of his term, he was appointed Minister of Public Works of Buenos Aires Province, under Governor Axel Kicillof.

Personal life Katopodis is married to Nancy Cappelloni, a school teacher and politician, with whom he has two children. Since the 1980s the Katopodis household has lived in San Martín, part of the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area. He is a supporter of Boca Juniors.