Constitutional law scholar and former minister Antonis Manitakis passed away at the age of 82.

The emeritus professor of the Law School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki had served as Minister of the Interior and as Minister of Administrative Reform and E-Government.

According to information, he had been hospitalized in recent days in an intensive care unit. The news of his death was announced by the Rectorate of AUTH and the Dean’s Office of the Law School, stating:
“With deep sorrow and unspeakable grief, we announce to the academic community the loss of the distinguished University Teacher, Antonis Manitakis. From today, legal science and Greek intellectual life are poorer.”

Two-day mourning at the Law School of AUTH

The Dean’s Office of the Law School of AUTH declared two days of mourning and suspended all classes. In its statement it noted:
“The Dean’s Office of the Law School of AUTH, with great sorrow, announces the loss of Professor Antonis Manitakis. In memory of our teacher, it declares a two-day mourning period and the suspension of all classes with immediate effect.”

According to his wishes, his farewell will take place in a close family circle. However, professors, students, and friends will honor his memory tomorrow, Thursday, at 19:00, in Hall 112 of the Law School of AUTH.

Academic and public career

Antonis Manitakis was born in 1944 in Thessaloniki and studied at the Law School of the University of Thessaloniki. He earned a doctorate in law from the University of Brussels and, in 1982, was elected professor at the Law School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

He was a student of Aristovoulos Manesis, whom he later succeeded in the Chair of Constitutional Law, and became emeritus professor in 2012. He served as Dean of the School of Law and Economics (1989–1991) and as a visiting professor at universities abroad, including Montpellier, Saint-Étienne, Paris X, Rome “La Sapienza,” and Nantes, as well as Visiting Research Fellow at Princeton University (1998–99).

In 2007, he received the Award for Excellence in University Teaching from the President of the Hellenic Republic. He served as Deputy President of the National Council for Radio and Television (1997–1999) and as President and Vice President of the National Commission for Human Rights (2010–2012).

He founded and directed the website of the “Manesis” Group, which operates as a scientific journal (www.constitutionalism.gr). His scholarly work includes 16 monographs and 130 original studies in Greek and French, among them Constitutional Law, Relations between Church and Nation-State, and Rule of Law and Judicial Review of Constitutionality.

Political career

Antonis Manitakis served as caretaker Minister of the Interior in the caretaker government of Panagiotis Pikrammenos (17 May – 21 June 2012). On 21 June 2012, he was sworn in as Minister of Administrative Reform and E-Government in the government of Antonis Samaras, a position from which he resigned on 24 June 2013.

On 28 August 2015, he was proposed by the President of the Republic and appointed Minister of the Interior in the caretaker government of Vasiliki Thanou (28 August – 23 September 2015).