Greek jurist, academic, and senior political figure Anna Psarouda-Benaki has passed away at the age of 92, marking the end of a distinguished public life that helped shape post-dictatorshipGreece.
Anna Psarouda-Benaki was the first woman to serve as President of the Hellenic Parliament and the first woman to lead the Academy of Athens. She was also Professor Emerita of Criminal Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Statement by Nikitas Kaklamanis
The current Speaker of Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, issued a moving tribute following her passing.
“With deep sorrow and profound emotion, I bid farewell today to Anna Psarouda-Benaki,” he said, describing her as a rare political figure of strong intellectual stature, deep legal expertise, and unwavering commitment to democratic institutions.
Kaklamanis praised her historic tenure as Speaker, noting that she strengthened parliamentary ethos at a time when institutions faced distrust and devaluation. He also highlighted her service as Minister of Justice and Culture, and as President of the Academy of Athens, emphasizing her integrity, institutional commitment, and lifelong dedication to public service.
Academic and Legal Career
Born in Exarchia, Athens, on December 12, 1934, she studied law at the University of Athens and later pursued postgraduate studies in Criminal Law in Bonn and Freiburg, Germany. She earned her PhD in Criminal Law from the University of Bonn.
She began her academic career in 1961 and became Professor of Criminal Law in 1978. A practicing lawyer from 1962, she edited the legal journal Poinika Chronika from 1975 onward and held leadership roles in major legal and cultural institutions.
In 2010, she was elected to the Academy of Athens as a member of the Chair of Criminal Law. She became Vice President in 2019 and, on January 1, 2020, assumed the presidency — the first woman in the institution’s history to do so.
Political Career
Her political journey began in 1981, when she was elected as an MP with New Democracy. She was re-elected continuously until 2009.
She served in key ministerial roles, including:
- Alternate Minister of Education and Religious Affairs (1989)
- Minister of Culture (1989)
- Alternate Minister of Culture (1990–1991)
- Minister of Justice (1992–1993)
On March 19, 2004, she was elected President of the Hellenic Parliament, becoming the first woman in Greek history to hold the office.
A Historic Legacy
Anna Psarouda-Benaki leaves a legacy defined by academic excellence, institutional leadership, and breaking barriers for women in public life. Her contribution to Greece’s legal and parliamentary institutions secures her place in modern Greek history.