Fofi Gennimata 1964 - 2021

The Socialist International is deeply saddened at the passing of Fofi Gennimata, leader of the Movement for Change, KINAL, and former leader of the Greek Panhellenic Socialist Movement, PASOK, who passed away today, aged 56, after a long struggle with cancer.

Fotini Gennimata, known as Fofi, was the daughter of Giorgos Gennimatas who was a founding member of PASOK and who helped establish a National Health System in Greece. Graduating in political science from the University of Athens, where she had been a member of the socialist student union, Fofi would follow her father’s political footsteps. She was elected a Member of Parliament in 2000, and became a member of the PASOK’s Central Committee and Secretary of the party’s Education Sector in 2001. She served as a member of the Executive Bureau and the Political Council of PASOK from 2003 until 2009. From 2009 to 2010 she served as a Deputy Minister of Health and Social Solidarity; from 2010 to 2011 as Deputy Minister of Education and Lifelong Learning; in 2011 Deputy Minister of the Interior; and from 2013 to 2015 she served as Deputy Minister of National Defence.

At PASOK’s Conference of 2015, Fofi Gennimata was elected party leader with a significant majority. In 2017, she won the leadership elections of KINAL, an alliance which brought together PASOK and other centre and centre-left parties in Greece.

The Socialist International’s thoughts and sympathies are with Fofi Gennimata’s family at this very difficult time, and with all her party members and comrades.