Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou (Greek:Κατερίνα Ν. Σακελλαροπούλου[kateˈrinasacelaroˈpulu]; born 30 May 1956) is a Greek retired judge who served as thepresident of Greece from 2020 to 2025.[2] She waselected by theHellenic Parliament to succeedProkopis Pavlopoulos on 22 January 2020. Prior to her election as president, Sakellaropoulou served as president of theCouncil of State, the highest administrative court of Greece. She was the country's first female president.[3]
In October 2015 she was appointed vice-president of the Council of State, and in October 2018 she became the first female president of the court, following a unanimous vote.[6] Her election came after theSyriza government, which was in power at the time, considered her progressive record on issues such as the environment and human rights.[7]
She has been a member of the Association of Judiciary Functionaries of the Council of State. During her tenure at the association, she has served as its secretary-general (1985–1986), vice-president (2006–2008), and president (1993–1995, 2000–2001).[5]
She publishes regularly in academic journals. She has also contributed to the bookFinancial crisis and environmental protection in the case law of the Council of State (Greek:Οικονομική κρίση και προστασία του περιβάλλοντος στη νομολογία του Συμβουλίου της Επικρατείας), Papazisis Publications, 2017.[8]
On 15 January 2020, theGreek prime minister,Kyriakos Mitsotakis, nominated her for the post of president of the Hellenic Republic.[9][10] Though she was chosen as a non-partisan candidate, she was an unexpected choice as her progressive politics conflicted with Mitsotakis' centre-right politics.[7][11] She was elected to the post on 22 January 2020 with 261 MPs voting in favour in the 300-seatParliament.[3]
Sakellaropoulou took office before theHellenic Parliament on 13March of that year in a session with few legislators present, as the country was beginning to be severely affected by theCOVID-19 pandemic and the first restrictive measures had been ordered.[12] Upon being sworn in, she became the first woman to serve as Greece's president.[11]
Her presidency garnered praise for her historic role as the first female president,[14] but faced heavy criticism for several issues, notably her perceived inaction concerning the violations ofrule of law.[15][16][17] Her tenure has received some of the lowest levels of popularity in presidential history.[18][19][20]
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