With a touching “goodbye,” Lena Papaligura bid farewell to her father Anastasios Papaliguras during the funeral service at Athens’ First Cemetery.
Read: Anastasios Papaliguras dies, former New Democracy minister
In her eulogy, she mentioned, among other things, that “during the difficult days of his illness, we saw what courage and dignity mean. But we also saw something else. How important it is for a person to be able to stay in their home, close to their loved ones with care, comfort and love. My father left holding the hand of his partner Barbara. These moments remind us that palliative care is not a luxury, it is a human right.”
At that point she added that “our state should therefore begin, as in many foreign countries, to support in every way programs that allow patients to live their final days in their homes, with respect, without pain, in the embrace of their loved ones. Because the real progress of a society is shown in how it stands beside those who are leaving. With care, love and humanity. Thank you.”
It is recalled that former New Democracy minister Anastasios Papaliguras died at the age of 78. The former ND minister was battling for his life, as his daughter Lena Papaligura had revealed a few months ago.
Anastasios Papaliguras: Who was the former ND minister
Anastasios Papaliguras was born on April 14, 1948 in Athens and was the son of politician Panagis Papaliguras and his wife Despoina. He studied law at the University of Athens and completed his postgraduate studies in comparative European law specializing in common market law at Brunel University in London. He spoke English, French, and German.
During 1976-1977 he was head of the New Democracy Youth Organization (ONNED). From 1981 he was continuously elected as MP in the region of Corinthia, except for the elections of June and November 1989 and 1990. During 2002-2004 he served as deputy parliamentary representative of New Democracy and from 2004 to 2007 he was Justice Minister in the first Karamanlis government. In 2008 he was appointed Minister of Merchant Marine and Island Policy. After the October 2009 elections he did not return to politics.
During his tenure at the Justice Ministry he was the first in Greece to establish explicit and comprehensive legal framework for abuse — particularly for domestic violence. He has written the books “The Formation of Contracts” (1975), “Contract Formation in European Laws” (1978), “Europe of Ten” (1979), “With Tradition in Renewal” (1981), “Texts of Challenge,” “The Challenge of 1992” (collective edition, 1989), “Journey through Corinthia” (1999), “Memory Testimonies for Panagis Papaliguras” (2001), “On Corruption or the Lost Honor of Politics” (2001), “A New Transport-Communications Policy” (2003), “Neoclassical Acroteria and Their Era 1830-1930” (2021)
In 2019 he donated his coin collection to the Numismatic Museum. The collection, which covers a broad geographical spectrum, consists of 3,745 coins from ancient Greek, Greco-Roman, Roman, late Roman, Byzantine and medieval times. In 2023, with the completion of identification, recording and photographic documentation of the coins, 99 representative samples of historical periods were selected — gold and silver coins, as well as an ancient dolphin-shaped piece — which are on display.
He was married to Zaira Rallis, daughter of former Prime Minister George Rallis, and has one daughter, actress Lena Papaligura.
New Democracy’s announcement on Anastasios Papaliguras’ death
The New Democracy family sadly bids farewell to former Corinthia MP and minister Anastasios Papaliguras.
Born in 1948 in Athens, he was the son of ERE and ND politician Panagis Papaliguras, who played a significant role in modernizing the Greek economy and integrating the country into the EEC. He studied Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and completed his postgraduate studies at Brunel University in London.
During 1976-1977 he was president of ONNED.
In the 1981 elections he was elected MP for Corinthia with New Democracy for the first time. He was re-elected in the elections of 1985, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2007. He served as Justice Minister (2004-2007) and Minister of Merchant Marine, Aegean and Island Policy (2008-2009) in the governments of Kostas Karamanlis.
Anastasios Papaliguras leaves a strong mark on the public life of the country. He served his homeland and party with dignity, fighting spirit and integrity, worked consistently for his local homeland and was loved by his fellow Corinthian citizens.
We extend our sincere condolences to his family and relatives.
