Elektra Romi Dochtzi becomes first trans woman to lead a legally recognised political party in Greece
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Elektra Romi Dochtzi has become the first trans woman to lead a legally recognised political party in Greece. She now serves as co-president of Volt Greece, the national branch of the pan-European political movement Volt Europa, which has publicly condemned transphobia, homophobia, and biphobia.
In an interview with Deutsche Welle, the 26-year-old described her political journey as driven by “passion” and a desire to transform how politics is conducted in Europe. Volt Greece, which currently has around 250 registered members, will be contesting the next national elections independently for the first time.
A hallmark of Volt’s structure is its mandatory co-presidency between different genders, a model designed to ensure gender equality and inclusivity. Dochtzi shares leadership with Vaggelis Liarras, and she emphasised that their partnership is collaborative, not competitive.
Dochtzi has been vocal about the need for radical reforms in Greece, particularly in the justice system. Citing the Tempi train tragedy and the OPEKEPE scandal, she criticised the inefficiency of the courts and advocated for digitisation, including the introduction of online trials.
On migration, she supports open borders and a fair distribution of migrants across Europe, arguing that Greece cannot bear the burden alone. She also condemned the poor conditions in which many migrants are held, calling for more humane treatment.
In a recent interview, Elektra shared personal reflections on her experience as a trans woman in Greece, highlighting the challenges she faced growing up:
“I had to suppress my gender identity for years. I was afraid of being rejected by my family, by society. I was afraid of being beaten up.”
She also described how her political awakening was deeply tied to her identity:
“I realised that if I wanted to live authentically, I had to fight—not just for myself, but for everyone who feels invisible.”
