Greece's First Female President Emerges... Former Senior Judge

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] Greece has elected its first female president.

According to AFP and other news agencies, the Greek parliament approved Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou, Chief Justice of the Supreme Administrative Court and Chairperson of the Council of State, as the next president with 261 votes in favor out of 300 total members on the 22nd (local time). There were 33 votes against.

Chairperson Sakellaropoulou will officially take office as president on March 13. The term is five years, with the possibility of one re-election.

In Greece, which adopts a parliamentary system, the president holds the constitutional status and authority as the head of state and head of the executive branch, but is known to mainly perform a symbolic role. The president is elected through an indirect election system where the prime minister nominates a candidate and the parliament approves. Earlier, on the 15th, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that the time has come for a woman to become head of state and nominated Chairperson Sakellaropoulou as the next president.

Chairperson Sakellaropoulou is a career jurist known as an expert in environmental law and constitutional law. She also holds the title of being the first female chairperson of the Council of State, a cabinet advisory body.

It has been rare for women to advance to high-ranking political positions in Greece. The current cabinet also has only one woman among its 18 ministers.