European Institute

The Greek foreign minister, Dora Bakoyannis, has the personal experience and poised public presence that comes from an extensive and successful political career. At 55, she has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs since February 2006, coming to that post after gaining national prominence as a leader in the center-right New Democracy Party. Elected by the people of Athens to become the city’s first female mayor, she served four years starting in 2002, preparing and overseeing the Olympics in the capital of Greece, the country where the games were born and where the event in 2004 was hailed internationally as a success for the host nation.