Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou becomes first woman president of Greece

Follow us on

Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou, a high court judge has become Greece’s first female president. Sakellaropoulou, 63, has served as president of the Council of State, a top administrative court, for the past 15 months.

A government spokesman, Stelios Petsas, on Tuesday said Sakellaropoulou was set to receive “well beyond” the 200 votes needed for her election in a vote scheduled in the 300-seat Parliament on Wednesday.

Two center-left opposition parties have already backed Sakellaropoulou’s nomination, raising the total number of lawmakers from parties declaring support to 266.

Greece has a historically low level of women in senior positions in politics. In the current cabinet, all but one of the 18 senior positions are held by men. The president holds a largely ceremonial position and serves a five-year term. If elected, Sakellaropoulou will succeed President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, a 69-year-old veteran conservative politician and academic.

This is a developing story...

(With inputs from agencies)

ALSO READ | American scientist Suzanne Eaton raped, murdered in Greece; body dumped in tunnel