Marietta Giannakou, a former Greek education minister and a veteran lawmaker with the country's ruling conservative New Democracy party, has died at 70. The military hospital she had been treated at recently announced Sunday.
Giannakou had had a history of health problems, including a recent fall at home, a heart attack six years ago, and a leg amputation in 2008, due to complications from diabetes.
Giannakou, a neuropsychiatrist by training, came under fire when she served as an education minister from 2004 to 2007.
The left-wing opposition vociferously objected to university reforms. At the same time, she also faced criticism from Greek nationalists, including many in her own party, over a 6th-grade history book that was considered insufficiently patriotic. In the end, both the reforms and the book were shelved.
Born on June 6, 1951, Giannakou became active in politics early in the New Democracy youth wing. She was Minister of Health, Welfare and Social Security from 1990-1991. She served in the Greek parliament from 1993-99, from 2000 to 2007 and since July 2019. She was also a member of the European Parliament from 1984-1990, 1999-2000 and 2009-2014.
Giannakou is survived by a daughter.
