Former New Democracy minister Anastasios Papaligouras has died at the age of 78, as announced by the Press Office of New Democracy on the morning of Thursday, February 12. In recent months, the former MP for Corinth had been dealing with health problems.

Anastasios Papaligouras was first elected Member of Parliament for Corinth with New Democracy in the 1981 elections. He was re-elected in the elections of 1985, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2007. He served as Minister of Justice (2004–2007) and as Minister of Mercantile Marine, the Aegean and Island Policy (2008–2009) in the governments of Kostas Karamanlis.

As stated in the New Democracy announcement, “he leaves a strong imprint on the country’s public life. He served the Homeland and the Party with dignity, determination, and integrity, worked consistently for his home region, and was loved by his fellow citizens of Corinth.”

The announcement of the New Democracy Press Office

The New Democracy family bids farewell with sadness to the former MP for Corinth and Minister Anastasios Papaligouras.

He was born in 1948 in Athens and was the son of the ERE and New Democracy politician Panagis Papaligouras, who played an important role in the modernization of the Greek economy and in the country’s accession to the EEC. He studied Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and completed his postgraduate studies at Brunel University in London.

During the period 1976–1977, he served as President of ONNED.

In the 1981 elections, he was elected for the first time as MP for Corinth with New Democracy. He was re-elected in the elections of 1985, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2007. He served as Minister of Justice (2004–2007) and as Minister of Mercantile Marine, the Aegean and Island Policy (2008–2009) in the governments of Kostas Karamanlis.

Anastasios Papaligouras leaves a strong mark on the country’s public life. He served the Homeland and the Party with dignity, determination, and integrity, worked consistently for his home region, and was loved by his fellow citizens of Corinth.

We extend our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.

The award dedicated to him by Lena Papaligoura

His daughter, Lena Papaligoura, a few months ago had received the “3rd Award for Female Role” for her performance in the play Prima Facie at the Audience Theater Awards by Athenorama. During her speech, she broke down in tears and dedicated the award to her father, Anastasios Papaligouras, who, as she said at the time, “was fighting a battle with his health.”

Specifically, she stated emotionally:
“I would like to dedicate this to my father, who at this moment is fighting his own battle with his health and cannot be here tonight, but is always with me in everything I do. It matters to me to say that when I did research for the play, I discovered—or rather, I knew and remembered, but ultimately rediscovered—that he was the first, while serving in Parliament, to introduce a law on the abuse of women and domestic violence. And that was in 2006! Think how recent that is—before that, there was nothing. When you think about it, it’s shocking. I hope our art continues to fight our battles against the injustices of this world.”