Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou

Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou
Name	Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou
Office	Interim Prime Minister of Greece
Term start	27 August 2015
Term end	21 September 2015
President	Prokopis Pavlopoulos
Predecessor	Alexis Tsipras
Successor	Alexis Tsipras
Office1	President of the Court of Cassation
Term start1	1 July 2015
Term end1	30 October 2015
Predecessor1	Athanasios Koutromanos
Successor1	Nikolaos Sakellariou
Birth date	3 November 1950
Birth place	Chania, Crete, Greece
Alma mater	University of Athens
Profession	Judge, Jurist

Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou is a Greek jurist who served as the first female Prime Minister of Greece in an interim capacity during a political crisis in 2015. A senior judge, she was the President of the Court of Cassation, the country's highest court, prior to her brief premiership. Her appointment followed the resignation of Alexis Tsipras and preceded the snap elections that returned him to power.

Early life and education

Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou was born on 3 November 1950 in Chania on the island of Crete. She pursued higher education in the nation's capital, graduating from the University of Athens Law School with a degree in law. Her academic foundation at the premier institution of Greece paved the way for her entry into the country's legal system, where she would build a long and distinguished career within the judiciary.

Legal career

Thanou-Christophilou began her judicial career in 1975 as a Justice of the Peace in Piraeus. She steadily ascended through the ranks of the Greek judicial system, serving in various courts including the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal. Her expertise and reputation led to her appointment to the Court of Cassation in 2008. Throughout her tenure, she was known for her involvement in significant legal circles, including the Association of Judges and Prosecutors.

Interim Prime Minister of Greece

In August 2015, following the resignation of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the inability of the Hellenic Parliament to form a new government, a caretaker administration was required to oversee the state until elections. As the senior-most president of a high court, Thanou-Christophilou, then head of the Court of Cassation, was appointed Interim Prime Minister by President Prokopis Pavlopoulos on 27 August 2015. Her non-partisan cabinet, which included figures like Giorgos Chouliarakis and Nikos Voutsis, managed the day-to-day affairs of the Hellenic Republic and prepared for the September 2015 Greek legislative election. She handed power back to the re-elected Alexis Tsipras of the SYRIZA party on 21 September 2015.

President of the Court of Cassation

Prior to and immediately following her premiership, Thanou-Christophilou held the prestigious post of President of the Court of Cassation, the highest judicial office in Greece for civil and criminal law. She assumed this role on 1 July 2015, succeeding Athanasios Koutromanos. Her tenure at the helm of the supreme court, though briefly interrupted by her political service, concluded on 30 October 2015 when she was succeeded by Nikolaos Sakellariou, marking the end of her active judicial service.

Public service and later career

Beyond her judicial and brief political service, Thanou-Christophilou has been involved in broader public and legal service. She has served on the board of the Hellenic Pasteur Institute and contributed to various judicial and administrative reform discussions in Greece. Following her retirement from the bench, she has participated in academic and legal forums, often commenting on issues related to the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the Constitution of Greece.

Personal life

Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou is married to Ioannis Christophilopoulos, a professor at the University of Athens. She maintains a relatively private life, with limited public disclosure of personal details. Her career is noted for breaking significant barriers, most prominently as the first woman to lead the Greek government, albeit in a temporary capacity, a milestone in the modern political history of the Hellenic Republic.

Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:Prime Ministers of Greece Category:Greek judges Category:Presidents of the Court of Cassation (Greece) Category:University of Athens alumni Category:People from Chania Category:Female prime ministers