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Fotini "Fofi" Gennimata (Greek: Φωτεινή "Φώφη" Γεννηματά [ˈfofi ʝenimaˈta]; born 17 November 1964) is a Greek politician who has been president of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) since 2015. Since 2017, she serves as the president of the Movement for Change, a coalition of center-left parties formed around PASOK.
Gennimata has served in a number of different roles in various governments, serving in the Cabinet of George Papandreou as a Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare and an Alternate Minister of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs.
Early life and education
Gennimata was born in Athens, the daughter of PASOK politician Georgios Gennimatas. She graduated from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Athens in 1987. When at university, she was a member of the socialist student union.
Political career
From 2001 to 2004, she served as a member of PASOK's Central Committee, and from 2003 to 2009 she served as a member of the Executive Bureau and the Political Council of PASOK. She was twice elected as the President of the Super-Prefecture of Athens and Piraeus, in 2002 and 2006.
Gennimata was blocked from standing as a PASOK candidate in the 2007 legislative election as the supreme court ruled that according to Article 57 of the Constitution of Greece, local government officials cannot stand for election as MPs until they have seen their term out.
From October 2009 to September 2010, Gennimata served as a Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare in the Cabinet of George Papandreou, and from September 2010 to November 2011, she served as an Alternate Minister of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs in the same cabinet.
In 2012, Gennimata was appointed as a spokesperson for PASOK.
Gennimata was elected as Leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement at their tenth conference, after Evangelos Venizelos stepped down as leader a year before the conclusion of his term. She won the leadership election with 51% of the vote, beating Odysseas Konstantinopoulos and Andreas Loverdos.
