Former Greek Deputy Prime Minister and constitutional scholar Evangelos Venizelos was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Law School and the Department of Social Theology and Religious Studies of the School of Theology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens during a special ceremony held at the university’s Great Hall.
The event brought together leading figures from politics, academia, the Church, and the business community. Among those in attendance were Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens.
Greece’s Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias and Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki were also present.
The ceremony opened with an address by the rector of the university, Gerasimos Siasos. Professors Spyridon Vlachopoulos and Kirki Kefalea presented Venizelos’ academic achievements, political career, and intellectual contribution to constitutional law and public discourse in both Greece and Europe.
Particular emphasis was placed on Venizelos’ longstanding role in constitutional science, his extensive body of written work, and his influence on democratic and institutional debate at both national and European levels.
In his acceptance speech, Venizelos addressed the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and modern technological developments. According to reports by protothema.gr, he warned that major multinational corporations dominating the global digital market are increasingly seeking a role that approaches the very concept of sovereignty itself.
Photos: CHRISTOS BONIS & YIANNIS PANAGOPOULOS/EUROKINISSI, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
