Katerina Sakellaropoulou has been elected Greece’s first female President, after a vote in Greek Parliament on Wednesday.
Former Council of State head Sakellaropoulou, won the support of 261 lawmakers in the 300-seated parliament.
She was backed by lawmakers from ruling New Democracy, leftist SYRIZA opposition and the center-left Movement for Change alliance (KINAL).
Sakellaropoulou will serve for 5 years starting on March 13, when Prokopis Pavlopoulos’ term comes to an end.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis nominated Sakellaropoulou for the post last week. “The term citizen is of male gender. Democracy, Greece and Progress, however, are of female nouns. And they call on us to make the great leap. I think it is time for our homeland to have a worthy Greek woman as head of the state: So, I propose for President of Hellenic Republic, the President of the Council of State, Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou,” he stated.
Katerina Sakellaropoulou has made history, becoming the first female head of state.
