Greek Female Leaders

Irene of Athens ruled over the Eastern Roman Empire between 797 and 802. She started her political career by becoming the empress consort to Emperor Leo IV. She then served as regent during her son Constantine VI's rule before co-ruling along with him. In 797, she organized a conspiracy to gouge out her son's eyes to become the sole ruler.

Maria Amalia Mercouri was a Greek actress, singer, politician, activist, and socialist. Mercouri had a profound acting career and is remembered for her portrayal of Ilya in the film Never on Sunday, which earned her a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award. As a politician, Mercouri served as the Minister of Culture and Sports, the first female to do so.

Greek judge Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who specializes in environmental and constitutional law, became the first female president of Greece back in 2020. Previously, she has also been the first female president of the Council of State, the highest administrative court in her country. She also regularly contributes to various academic journals.

Eva Kaili is a Greek politician and former television news presenter. Since 2014, Kaili has been serving as an important Member of the European Parliament. She is also the current Vice-President of the European Parliament, after having assumed office on 18 January 2022.

Dora Bakoyannis is a Greek politician who served as the Minister for Culture from 1992 to 1993. From 2003 to 2006, she served as the first female mayor of Athens. She also became the first woman to hold the mayor's office of a city hosting the Olympics. Bakoyannis also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2009.

Maya Tsoclis is a travel journalist whose documentary series Taxidevontas stin Ellada and its sequel Travelling with Maya Tsoclis made her a household name in Greece. A former member of parliament, Tsoclis represented PASOK before quitting politics. She is also credited with creating several websites and travel magazines. Tsoclis is also credited with co-founding the internationally awarded craft beer, NISSOS.

Antigoni Papadopoulou is a Greek Cypriot chemist and politician. Papadopoulou became the first female mayor in the history of Morphou, a place in the northwestern part of Cyprus, and remains the town's only elected female mayor. Antigoni Papadopoulou is also the first woman national parliamentarian to serve for the Democratic Party for two successive terms in the District of Nicosia.