Katerina Sakellaropoulou

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Katerina Sakellaropoulou

| native_name = {{nobold|{{Lang|el|Κατερίνα Σακελλαροπούλου}}}}

| image = Katerina Sakellaropoulou, October 2022 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Sakellaropoulou in 2022

| office = President of Greece

| primeminister = Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Ioannis Sarmas
Kyriakos Mitsotakis

| term_start = 13 March 2020

| term_end = 13 March 2025

| predecessor = Prokopis Pavlopoulos

| successor = Konstantinos Tasoulas

| office1 = President of the Council of State

| term_start1 = 17 October 2018

| term_end1 = 11 February 2020

| vicepresident1 = Athanasios Rantos

| predecessor1 = Nikolaos Sakellariou

| successor1 = Athanasios Rantos

| office2 = Vice President of the Council of State

| term_start2 = 22 October 2015

| term_end2 = 17 October 2018

| president2 = Nikolaos Sakellariou

| predecessor2 = Nikolaos Sakellariou

| successor2 = Athanasios Rantos

| birth_name = Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|5|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Thessaloniki, Kingdom of Greece

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Independent{{efn|Close to the PASOK party.}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.iefimerida.gr/politiki/aikaterini-sakellaropoyloy-pos-ypodehthikan-ta-kommata-tin-protasi-mitsotaki-gia-ptd|title=Αικατερίνη Σακελλαροπούλου: Πώς υποδέχθηκαν τα κόμματα την πρόταση Μητσοτάκη για ΠτΔ|access-date=4 September 2022|date=16 January 2020|lang=el|website=Iefimerida}}

| partner = Pavlos Kotsonis

| children = 1

| education = University of Athens
University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas

| signature = Katerina Sakellaropoulou signature.svg

}}

Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou ({{langx|el|Κατερίνα Ν. Σακελλαροπούλου}} {{IPA|el|kateˈrina sacelaroˈpulu|}}; born 30 May 1956) is a Greek retired judge who served as the president of Greece from 2020 to 2025.{{Cite web|url=http://www.presidency.gr/en/president/|title=President – Presidency of the Hellenic Republic|language=en-GB|access-date=15 March 2020}} She was elected by the Hellenic Parliament to succeed Prokopis Pavlopoulos on 22 January 2020. Prior to her election as president, Sakellaropoulou served as president of the Council of State, the highest administrative court of Greece. She was the country's first female president.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/1061315/gallery/epikairothta/politikh/proedros-ths-dhmokratias-e3elegh-h-aikaterinh-sakellaropoyloy|title=Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας εξελέγη η Αικατερίνη Σακελλαροπούλου, του Γιώργου Σ. Μπουρδάρα {{!}} Kathimerini|website=kathimerini.gr|date=22 January 2020 |access-date=22 January 2020|lang=el}}

Early life

Sakellaropoulou was born in Thessaloniki. Her parents are Nikolaos Sakellaropoulos, a former vice president of the Greek Supreme Court, and Aliki Paraskeva.{{Cite web|title=President – Presidency of the Hellenic Republic|url=https://www.presidency.gr/en/president/|access-date=1 November 2021|language=en-GB}} Her family comes from Stavroupoli, a town in Xanthi prefecture. She studied law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and completed her postgraduate studies in public law at Paris II University. In the mid-1980s, she was admitted to the Council of State and she was promoted to councilor in 2000.

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/232256/ola-ta-onomata-proedron-antiproedron-ton-anotaton-dikastirion|title=Όλα τα ονόματα των προέδρων και αντιπροέδρων των Ανωτάτων Δικαστηρίων |website=iefimerida.gr |date=22 October 2015 |access-date=2020-01-15|lang=el}} Her election came after the Syriza government, which was in power at the time, considered her progressive record on issues such as the environment and human rights.

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).{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.gr/ellada/article/1364719/pia-ine-i-proti-gineke-proedros-tou-ste-ekaterini-sakellaropoulou.html|title=Ποια είναι η πρώτη γυναίκα πρόεδρος του ΣτΕ, Αικατερίνη Σακελλαροπούλου |website=news.gr |date=16 October 2018 |access-date=15 January 2020}}

She publishes regularly in academic journals. She has also contributed to the book Financial crisis and environmental protection in the case law of the Council of State (Greek: {{Lang|el|Οικονομική κρίση και προστασία του περιβάλλοντος στη νομολογία του Συμβουλίου της Επικρατείας}}), Papazisis Publications, 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.biblionet.gr/author/116852/%CE%91%CE%B9%CE%BA._%CE%A3%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%8D%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%85|title=Αικατερίνη Σακελλαροπούλου |website=biblionet.gr |access-date=15 January 2020|lang=el}}

President of Greece (2020–2025)

On 15 January 2020, the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, nominated her for the post of president of the Hellenic Republic.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-greece-politics-president/greek-pm-taps-top-female-judge-as-countrys-president-idUSKBN1ZE2FE?il=0|title=Greek PM taps top female judge as country's president|website=Reuters|date=15 January 2020|access-date=16 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/01/15/world/europe/15reuters-greece-politics-president.html|title=Greek PM Taps Top Female Judge as Country's President|website=The New York Times|access-date=16 January 2020}} Though she was chosen as a non-partisan candidate, she was an unexpected choice as her progressive politics conflicted with Mitsotakis' centre-right politics.{{Cite web |last=Labropoulou |first=Elinda |date=2020-01-22 |title=Katerina Sakellaropoulou becomes Greece's first woman president |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/22/europe/greece-president-katerina-sakellaropoulou-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=CNN |language=en}} She was elected to the post on 22 January 2020 with 261 MPs voting in favour in the 300-seat Parliament.

Sakellaropoulou took office before the Hellenic Parliament on 13{{nbsp}}March of that year in a session with few legislators present, as the country was beginning to be severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the first restrictive measures had been ordered.[https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-europe-greece-f9d84b728474688a4a7f8c019d042224 Greece’s first female president is sworn in] Upon being sworn in, she became the first woman to serve as Greece's president.

When parliament was unable to form a government in 2023, Sakellaropoulou appointed Ioannis Sarmas as the head of a caretaker government.{{Cite web |last=Liakos |first=Chris |date=2023-05-24 |title=Greek president appoints judge as caretaker PM ahead of new elections |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/24/europe/greece-new-elections-judge-caretaker-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=CNN |language=en}}

Her presidency garnered praise for her historic role as the first female president,{{Cite web |date=2020-01-20 |title=Γιατί μου αρέσει η Κατερίνα Σακελλαροπούλου |url=https://www.in.gr/2020/01/20/apopsi/giati-mou-aresei-katerina-sakellaropoulou/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=in.gr |language=el}} but faced heavy criticism for several issues, notably her perceived inaction concerning the violations of rule of law.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-21 |title=ΠτΔ προς Ανδρουλάκη για τις υποκλοπές: «Τοποθετήθηκα επί της αρχής στο πλαίσιο των αρμοδιοτήτων μου» |url=https://gr.euronews.com/2022/09/21/ptd-pros-androylaki-gia-tis-ypoklopes-topothetithika-sto-plasio-ton-armodiotiton-moy |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=euronews |language=el}}{{Cite web |last=ΚΑΡΕΛΙΑΣ |first=ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ |date=2023-12-23 |title=Θα επιτρέψει η Πρόεδρος να γίνει κουρέλι το Σύνταγμα; |url=https://www.news247.gr/gnomes/tha-epitrepsei-i-proedros-na-ginei-koureli-to-sintagma/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=News 24/7 |language=el}}{{Cite web |title=Επιλεκτικές ευαισθησίες της κ. Σακελλαροπούλου; |url=https://www.efsyn.gr/politiki/paraskinia/412946_epilektikes-eyaisthisies-tis-k-sakellaropoyloy |website=EFSYN}} Her tenure has received some of the lowest levels of popularity in presidential history.{{Cite web |title=Public Issue: Εξαιρετικά αρνητική η άποψη των πολιτών για την Κατερίνα Σακελλαροπούλου |url=https://www.protagon.gr/epikairotita/public-issue-eksairetika-arnitiki-i-apopsi-twn-politwn-gia-tin-katerina-sakellaropoulou-44342662220 |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Protagon.gr |language=el}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-27 |title=Πού οφείλεται η αρνητική εικόνα της Κατερίνας Σακελλαροπούλου; {{!}} LiFO |url=https://www.lifo.gr/stiles/daily/poy-ofeiletai-i-arnitiki-eikona-tis-katerinas-sakellaropoyloy |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=www.lifo.gr |language=el}}{{Cite web |last=Σκουρής |first=Βασίλης |title=Η ρήξη Προεδρίας - Εκκλησίας και οι θεσμικές παρενέργειες: Το παράδειγμα Παπούλια |url=https://www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/politikes-eidhseis/463689/i-riksi-proedrias-ekklisias-kai-oi-thesmikes-parenergeies-to-paradeigma-papoylia |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=www.dnews.gr |language=el-gr}}

Political beliefs

Sakellaropoulou is a progressive. She has prioritised issues of environmentalism and minority rights.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Helena |date=2020-01-16 |title=Progressive judge to become Greece's first female president |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/16/greece-first-female-president-katerina-sakellaropoulou-kyriakos-mitsotakis |access-date=2023-10-05 |issn=0261-3077}} She has described the Russian invasion of Ukraine as "a direct and dramatic conflict of values, between freedom and authoritarianism".{{Cite news |title=Greek president must reconcile high expectations and falling quality of life |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/greek-president-must-reconcile-high-expectations-and-falling-quality-of-life-1.4849304 |access-date=2023-10-05 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}

Personal life

Sakellaropoulou lives with her partner, Pavlos Kotsonis, a lawyer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.star.gr/eidiseis/politiki/486796/sakellaropoyloy-h-nea-ptd-latreyei-th-fysh-kai-tis-gates|title=Το προφίλ της Σακελλαροπούλου: Λάτρης της φύσης, των ταξιδιών και των γατών |website=star.gr |access-date=22 January 2020|lang=el}} She has one daughter from a previous marriage.

She is an Aris Thessaloniki supporter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metrosport.gr/ayti-einai-i-schesi-tis-katerinas-sakellaropoyloy-me-tin-thessaloniki-217696|title=Νέα Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας: Η σχέση της Κατερίνας Σακελλαροπούλου με τη Θεσσαλονίκη |website=metrosport.gr |access-date=16 January 2020|lang=el}}

Honours

=Foreign honours=

{{flag|Cyprus}}: Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III (21 September 2020)
{{flag|Italy}}: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (6 October 2020){{Cite web|url=https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/363557/|title = Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana|lang=it}}
{{flag|Egypt}}: Grand Collar of Order of the Nile (11 November 2020)
{{flag|Slovenia}}: Member of the Order for Exceptional Merits (22 April 2021)
{{flag|Portugal}}: Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry (28 March 2022)
{{flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (2 May 2022){{cite web | url=https://www.presidency.gr/synantisi-me-ton-vasilia-kai-tin-vasilissa-ton-velgon/ | title=Συνάντηση με τον Βασιλιά και την Βασίλισσα των Βέλγων – Προεδρία της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας|lang=el}}
{{flag|Slovakia}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross (6 September 2022){{cite web | url=https://www.presidency.gr/diloseis-ton-proedron-tis-ellinikis-dimokratias-kai-tis-slovakias-katerinas-sakellaropoyloy-kai-zuzana-caputova-kata-ti-synantisi-toys-sto-proedriko-megaro/ | title=Δηλώσεις των Προέδρων της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας και της Σλοβακίας Κατερίνας Σακελλαροπούλου και Zuzana Čaputová κατά τη συνάντησή τους στο Προεδρικό Μέγαρο – Προεδρία της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας|lang=el}}
{{flag|Netherlands}}: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (31 October 2022){{Cite web |last=Pournara |first=Margarita |date=2 November 2022 |access-date=6 November 2022 |title=A presidential welcome for Dutch royals |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/society/1196954/a-presidential-welcome-for-dutch-royals/ |publisher=Kathimerini |language=English}}
{{flag|Bulgaria}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the Balkan Mountains (8 December 2022){{Cite news |date=8 December 2022 |title=Bulgaria's President: The Sooner we Join Schengen, the Sooner we will Strengthen our Border Security with Turkey |work=Novinite |url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/217907/ |quote=The Bulgarian head of state awarded Katerina Sakellaropoulou with the "Stara Planina" order with a ribbon for her merits for the development of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Greece.}}
{{flag|Malta}}: Honorary Companions of Honour with Collar of the National Order of Merit (5 July 2023){{Cite news |last=Grigovits |first=Eleni |date=2023-07-05 |title=Κατερίνα Σακελλαροπούλου: Συνάντηση με τον πρόεδρο της Μάλτας με φόντο το μεταναστευτικό |url=https://www.protothema.gr/politics/article/1389480/katerina-sakellaropoulou-sunadisi-me-ton-proedro-tis-maltas-me-fodo-to-metanasteutiko-deite-fotografies/ |website=Proto Thema |language=el}}
{{flag|Latvia}}: Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (2 July 2024)
{{flag|SMOM}}: Collar of the Order pro Merito Melitensi (18 October 2024){{Cite web |date=18 October 2024 |title=Δηλώσεις της Προέδρου της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας Κατερίνας Σακελλαροπούλου και του Mεγάλου Μαγίστρου του Κυρίαρχου Στρατιωτικού Νοσοκομειακού Τάγματος του Αγίου Ιωάννη των Ιεροσολύμων, της Ρόδου και της Μάλτας Fra' John Dunlap κατά τη συνάντησή τους στο Προεδρικό Μέγαρο |url=https://www.presidency.gr/diloseis-tis-proedroy-tis-ellinikis-dimokratias-katerinas-sakellaropoyloy-kai-toy-megaloy-magistroy-toy-kyriarchoy-stratiotikoy-nosokomeiakoy-tagmatos-toy-agioy-ioanni-ton-ierosolymon-tis-rodoy-kai-ti/ |website=www.presidency.gr |language=el}}