ATHENS — Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Fofi Gennimata died on Monday at Evangelismos hospital in Athens at the age of 57. Gennimata, daughter of Greek politician and minister at PASOK government Giorgos Gennimatas, was a mother of three children.

On October 11 she was admitted to the Athens’ Evangelismos Hospital and announced that she was pulling out of December’s electoral race for the party leadership following the deterioration of her health.

Seven party members, including former Prime Minister George Papandreou, have declared themselves as candidates.

“The deterioration of my health that demands hospitalization and management obliges me to end my electoral run as candidate for the presidency of the Movement of Change,” she said in a statement.

Gennimata was elected MP for the first time with the PASOK ballot In April 2000.

In 2002 and 2006 was elected regional governor of Athens and Piraeus.

Gennimata was appointed Deputy Health and Welfare Minister in the cabinet of George Papandreou in October 2009.

In 2012, Gennimata was appointed PASOK’s spokesperson following a decision of PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos. In 2013 she served as Alternate National Defence Minister.

She has been president of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) since 2015. In 2017, she became the leader of the Movement for Change (KINAL), a coalition of centre-left parties formed around PASOK.

A political science graduate from the University of Athens, Fotini “Fofi” Gennimata was the daughter of the popular late Socialist politician Giorgos Gennimatas, who as health minister in the 1980s helped create the country’s publicly-run National Health Service.

Fofi Gennimata had lost both her parents to cancer by age 30 and was herself first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008.

Gennimata is survived by her second husband, dentist Andreas Tsounis, two daughters and a son. Funeral arrangements were not immediately known.

Parliament president Konstantinos Tasoulas announced the suspension of the parliament’s legislation work and parliamentary sessions this week as the least respect to the memory of Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Fofi Gennimata who died on Monday 25 October.

“My condolences to the family of Fofi Gennimata, and to our friends of KINAL party. A courageous woman, a progressive leader, she’s gone too soon. May she rest in peace,” Iratxe Garcia Perez, the president of the S&D Group in the European Parliament said in a Twitter post.

President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou in a statement on Monday expressed her deep sorrow over the death of Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Fofi Gennimata.

“A brave woman who was fighting with dignity all the battles of her life, the smallest and the biggest ones, without ever losing her bright smile. She has consistently and politically served her principles and the public life. With a kindness of soul that we will all miss. Warm condolences to her family, to her own people. Their pain during these difficult hours is also ours.”

Tsipras on Gennimata’s death: Her loss makes the country’s political life poorer

SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras on Monday sent his condolences over the loss of Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Fofi Gennimata.

“With deep grief I was informed on Fofi Gennimata’s death. She fought for her life with dignity and determination until the end. Her loss makes the country’s political life poorer. My sincere condolences to her family and comrades,” Tsipras posted on social media.

Koutsoumbas expresses deep sorrow over Gennimata’s loss

“I express my deep sorrow for the loss of Fofi Gennimata, leader of KINAL, to whom I say goodbye with great respect for her honesty, but also for the bravery with which she gave the battle for life. My warmest condolences to her family and the members of KINAL,” the Secretary General of the KKE Central Committee, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, said on Monday.

Economou: Gennimata was a great woman and a great politician; press briefing cancelled

“The death of Fofi Gennimata has shocked us all,” government spokesperson Yiannis Economou said on Monday on the death of Movement for Change (KINAL) leader.

Due to the tragic loss of Fofi Gennimata, Economou cancelled today’s press briefing.

“Gennimata was a great politician and a great woman with faith in democracy, a woman that bravely fought for her values and beliefs. We express our grief and pain. We convey our condolences to her family, friends and to KINAL. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is landing in a few minutes at Saudi Arabia airport and has been informed about the tragic event and is expected to make a statement”, Economou said.