Passion — that’s the word Elektra Romi Dochtzi repeats when she talks about politics. The 26-year-old from Katerini is the first trans woman to become president of a legally recognized political party in Greece: Volt Greece, the Greek branch of Volt Europa.

Volt Europa is a pan-European political movement that operates beyond national borders, with active participation in over 30 countries, where its national branches take part in local, national, and European elections.

It is currently represented in the European Parliament by five MEPs, three of whom are from Germany. According to Dochtzi, Volt “aims to change the way politics is done in Europe.”

Mandatory Co-Presidency Between Genders

A distinctive feature of Volt Greece — shared by other national Volt branches in the UK, Germany, Slovenia, and elsewhere — is the statutory requirement for co-presidency between people of different genders.

This ensures institutional inclusivity and participation. This co-presidency model, also adopted by other progressive parties in Europe, is designed to guarantee gender equality. In Greece, however, it is seen as a pioneering move.

Volt Greece is currently led by co-presidents Elektra Romi Dochtzi and Vaggelis Liarras. While Dochtzi has attracted attention as the first trans woman to lead a Greek party, she emphasizes in her interview with DW that there is no internal rivalry between the two.

“There Is No Justice in Greece”

Volt Greece, which Dochtzi says currently has 250 registered members, will participate as an independent party for the first time in the next national elections. Its core priorities include the economy, justice, and digital transformation.

“There is no justice in Greece,” says the 26-year-old, referring to the Tempi train tragedy and the OPEKEPE (Greek Payment Authority) scandal. She stresses that digitizing the justice system is crucial: “We can’t speak of justice when it takes ten years for a verdict.” She advocates for radical reforms, including online trials.

When asked which law she would change first if given the opportunity, Dochtzi admits she hasn’t yet decided.

Open Borders and Fair Distribution in the EU

On migration, Dochtzi supports an open-border policy. “Migration conventions must be revised so we accept people regardless of where they come from,” she says. However, she stresses that Greece is an entry country and “not everyone can stay at the entrance.” She calls for fair distribution of migrants across Europe.

“But people shouldn’t be held in prisons or in poor conditions. They’re seeking better lives, and we should help them achieve that,” she adds.

She also mentions a recent incident where Volt Greece was targeted by a far-right group due to its European and progressive stance. During the party’s congress last April, members of the group distributed provocative flyers.

“Mitsotakis Has No Real Opposition”

Dochtzi believes Greece’s political scene is generally toxic. “Right now, Mitsotakis (the Prime Minister) is playing without an opponent. There’s no real opposition in the country.”

She criticizes the current opposition as toxic, saying, “Instead of proposing solutions, they argue about who made things worse.” In contrast, Volt practices what she calls “non-toxic opposition” and aims to foster a new kind of political discourse.

Dochtzi is also unreserved in her opinions about other political leaders. She calls Nikos Androulakis “old school,” Dimitris Koutsoumpas “ancient,” Zoe Konstantopoulou “exploitative,” and Afroditi Latinopoulou “a pretender.” She describes Stefanos Kasselakis, leader of the Democratic Movement, as “a liberal.”

“We Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights, But We’re Not Just an LGBTQ+ Party”

“We’re a party that fights for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, but we’re not a party of the LGBTQ+ community,” she emphasizes.

Volt has positions on all major political issues, not just LGBTQ+ rights. That said, Dochtzi underlines the importance of allowing same-sex couples to adopt and to use surrogacy.

“They Told Me to Hide That I’m Trans”

“I’ve been told — both inside and outside the party — to hide the fact that I’m trans, that it’s not something that should be visible,” Dochtzi admits.

“We treat being trans like it’s something strange. It’s not. I’m just living my life. It’s not something I should be praised for, but neither is it something for which I should be shunned or excluded.”

Dochtzi identifies openly as pansexual and shares that she has faced rejection in personal relationships because some people refuse to see her as a woman. “This is who I am. Whoever wants me, wants me,” she says.

Her goal is to fully dedicate herself to politics, which she describes as a “calling,” not a profession. “Politics requires a strong stomach — but also passion.” And passion, she adds, is something she has in abundance.