1. Alexandra "Aleka" Papariga is a Greek retired politician who served the Communist Party of Greece as its General Secretary from 1991 to 2013.
11 Facts About Aleka Papariga
1. 2.
Aleka Papariga is the first woman to be General Secretary of KKE, and thus the first woman to head a major political party in Greece.
3.
Aleka Papariga graduated from the Historical-Archeological Section of the Philosophy Faculty of Athens University and after graduation worked as an employee for eight years in various accounting offices.
4.
Aleka Papariga was active in various school and student movements until the military coup in 1967.
5.
Aleka Papariga joined KKE in 1968, while it was illegal during the Greek junta and was active in the prisoners' families' movement.
6.
Aleka Papariga was a leading member of the women's movement until 1981, and then active in the Athens Party Organization up to 1991.
7.
Aleka Papariga has been a member of the Central Committee of KKE since the 10th Congress and of the Politburo of the CC since 1986.
8.
Aleka Papariga was unanimously re-elected as Secretary-General on 26 May 1996, at the 15th Party Congress.
9.
In February 2009, Aleka Papariga was re-elected as Secretary-General at the 18th Party Congress.
10.
Aleka Papariga married the journalist Thanasis Paparigas, with whom she had a daughter, Vasileia, and another child who died at the age of three.
11.
Aleka Papariga's husband died on 11 October 2002, after being seriously injured in a car accident.