Greek jurist, politician, and former President of the Academy of Athens Anna Psarouda-Benaki passed away at the age of 92.

Anna Benaki-Psarouda was the first woman to serve as President of the Hellenic Parliament and the first woman President of the Academy of Athens. She was also Professor Emerita of Criminal Law at the Athens Law School.

Statement by Nikitas Kaklamanis

The Speaker of Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, issued a condolence message, stating:

“With deep sorrow and profound emotion, I bid farewell today to Anna Psarouda-Benaki.

Anna was not only a distinguished political figure of post-dictatorship Greece. She was a rare woman of strong intellectual stature, deep legal expertise, and unwavering commitment to democratic institutions.

For me, she was also a friend—someone with frank speech, clear thinking, and genuine courtesy.

As the first woman President of the Hellenic Parliament, she paved the way at a time when institutions were tested by distrust and devaluation. She served Parliament with authority, seriousness, and a deep sense of historical responsibility. Her tenure was decisive in strengthening institutional function and parliamentary ethos.

A distinguished jurist and academic, educated in Germany, she served the science of Criminal Law with consistency and depth. As Minister of Justice, Minister of Culture, and President of the Academy of Athens, she proved that public service can combine knowledge, sensitivity, and a high sense of duty.

Anna Psarouda-Benaki now belongs to the history of this country. She leaves behind a clear and luminous legacy—one of integrity, institutional devotion, and selfless service.

I bid farewell to a friend and a great lady of politics and science with respect and gratitude. To her family and loved ones, I extend my sincere and heartfelt condolences.”

Who was Anna Benaki-Psarouda

She was born in the Exarchia district of Athens on December 12, 1934, daughter of Rear Admiral Evangelos Psaroudas and Aikaterini Antoniou. On her father’s side, she descended from a historic family of naval fighters from Hydra.

She graduated from the American College of Greece and studied law at the University of Athens (1952–1957). She continued postgraduate studies in Criminal Law in Bonn and Freiburg, Germany, earning a PhD in Criminal Law from the University of Bonn (1957–1961).

She served as an assistant lecturer in Criminal Law at the University of Athens Law School (1961–1970), was elected Assistant Professor in 1970, and became Professor of Criminal Law in 1978.

A practicing lawyer since 1962, she published and edited the legal journal Poinika Chronika from 1975 onward. She also served as Vice President of the Criminal Law Society and Vice President of the Archaeological Society of Athens. She was honored with a special award by the Athens Bar Association in memory of Stylianos Tegopoulos.

In 2010, she was elected a member of the Academy of Athens in the Chair of Criminal Law. She served as Vice President of the Academy in 2019 and, from January 1, 2020, as its President—the first woman to hold the post.

She was married to Linos Benakis, historian of philosophy and former Research Director of the Academy of Athens, until his death in October 2022.

Her political career

Her political career began in 1981, when she was elected MP (State List) with New Democracy. In 1985 she was elected MP for Athens A and was re-elected continuously until 2009.

In 1989 she served as Alternate Minister of Education and Religious Affairs and as Minister of Culture in the Tzannetakis government. From 1990 to 1991 she was Alternate Minister of Culture in the Mitsotakis government, and from 1992 to 1993 Minister of Justice in the same government.

In October 1996 she became the first woman ever nominated for the office of Speaker of Parliament. From 2000 to 2004 she served as Fourth Vice President of Parliament.

On March 19, 2004, she was elected President of the Hellenic Parliament, becoming the first Greek woman to hold the office.