The tables that wrote political history – Newsbeast

It is not only love that goes through the stomach according to the well-known saying, but often also political processes. At secret or open tables, from time to time historic deals have been made, political alliances have been formed, and governments have risen or fallen. After all, the climate between cheese and pear is more relaxed than in office meetings, which is why business lunches have been introduced.

A typical example is the dinner that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis prepares for next week at his paternal home in Chania to the head of US diplomacy Mike Pompeo. The chancellor will not be the first high-ranking guest to visit the picturesque house in Akrotiri, Chania, as one of the people who knew well the benefits of power lunches or dinners was the late Konstantinos Mitsotakis, who was greeted by political leaders at home. and his opponents even presidents of the United States.

There are many “tables” that have made history in our country from time to time. Let’s remember the most important of them.

The dolmadas of the next government, which were never eaten

In the summer of 1989, the then president of New Democracy Konstantinos Mitsotakis He had hosted a dinner at Glyfada’s house with guests Charilaos Florakis and Leonidas Kyrkos, which he led to the government between Right and Left in November of the same year. On the covers the next day I talked about the famous dolmadas that host Marika Mitsotaki had cooked.

But 22 years later, he will reveal that he had not wrapped grape leaves that night. “Well, no, I had not cooked dolmadas. I had given them sweets, coffee and sweets”, affirms in 2011 something that is confirmed by Mimis Androulakis, who was a close collaborator of the general secretary of the KKE. In fact, at some point When Florakis himself met Mitsotakis again, he said humorously: “What will happen? Won’t you finally invite us to eat your wife’s famous dolmadas?

Table for the President of the United States, George W. Bush Sr.

In the 1990s, the President of the United States, George W. Bush Sr., will be received twice in our country by Konstantinos Mitsotakis, who not only prepared the table for him, but also received him in Crete. The first time was on July 20, 1991 and the second in 1994. In fact, it is said that the high guest was surprised by the culinary skill of Marika Mitsotaki who became famous for the xerotigana, dolmadakia, Giouvarlakia and the spinach cake. What did. In fact, before leaving Greece, the president of the United States had taken care of taking cans of Cretan olive oil, which had also excited him.

The dinner of the four that brought Simitis to power

The dinner that took place in November 1994 at Vassos Papandreou’s home in Rematia, Halandri, with guests Costas Simitis, Theodoros Pangalos and Paraskeva Avgerinos, has also written political history. At the “dinner of the four” as it came to be known, attendees enjoyed ajem pilaf, artichokes ala civita, tagliatelle with bird livers, spinach cheesecake and panacota. The main topic of discussion was the choice of the person to succeed PASOK’s founding patient Andreas Papandreou. That night it was essentially decided that Costas Simitis would reclaim the leadership of the movement. For the record, let’s highlight that Costas Laliotis was also invited to dinner, but ultimately did not attend.

Andreas Papandreou’s dinner at the “pink villa”

Twenty-four hours after lunch in Chalandri in November 1994, Andreas Papandreou dined at the so-called “pink villa” at 3 Agrampelis Street in Ekali, with Karolos Papoulias, Telemachos Chytiris and Giorgos Katsifamaras facing off and looking for rivals. The menu prepared by Dimitra Liani – Papandreou included fish (tongue fillet and red mullet), pastitsio, rice dishes and salads. The hostess had a great weakness in cooking. In fact, Andreas Papandreou used to say to her mother-in-law: “Foreigner, you cook well, but your daughter is even better.” “The little fox looks like a fox.”

The “night of the barons” that led Karamanlis to the presidency of ND

On the night of February 19, 1997, 31 New Democracy MPs gathered at the home of Giannis Varvitsiotis, in Paleo Psychiko. “I thought that if 20 were collected it would be a success, so when I realized there were more, I was excited,” he told Kathimerini 12 years later. “In the previous days, he adds, I had informed my colleagues in Parliament that a meeting would be held at my house to discuss the future of the party.” Then the future seemed uncertain. Mr. Miltiadis Evert had already lost once to Mr. Costas Simitis and the other declared candidate, George Souflias, had won the support of Konstantinos Mitsotakis. The third candidacy was that of Byron Polydoras, but it was not considered competitive.

Appetizers, the deputies began to talk about the future of the liberal faction. The host, after reiterating to those present that he could not claim the leadership of the party, stressed that someone new and incorruptible must be chosen to ensure unity. They all knew why they were in the fancy house. Without hesitation, they decide to support Costas Karamanlis, 41, for the presidency of New Democracy, who was not present, but was informed by phone about the events.

The journalists had gathered outside the house. At two in the morning Giannis Varvitsiotis comes out and reads the corresponding announcement to them. At the same time, the deputies of the hall “had indulged in the meatballs prepared by my wife,” recalls the experienced politician.

In the context of the Acropolis, Avramopoulos refuses to enter the ballot

Overlooking the Parthenon was held on January 18, 2000 in the restaurant “Dionysos” the meal between the then The President of New Democracy, Costas Karamanlis, and the Mayor of Athens, Dimitris Avramopoulos with the main topic of discussion the possible inclusion of the latter in the ballots of the parties for the next elections on April 9.

The conversation lasted a long time but to no avail. Mr. Avramopoulos chose to remain in the municipality. Many later said that it was this denial that deprived the New Democracy of victory in those elections.

Prime Minister Simitis benches ministers but not vice ministers

On the night of January 18, 2001, Prime Minister Costas Simitis spent five years at the helm of PASOK and to celebrate it he offered a dinner at the Palace of the Maxims with members of the Council of Ministers as assistants. The problem, however, was that only the ministers were invited, with the result that the vice ministers protested against the fact that they were fasting. The only Deputy Minister present for his position was Telemachos Chytiris (Deputy Minister of Press and Media), while the secretary of the Council of Ministers, Socrates Kosmidis, and advisers to Prime Minister Nikos Themelis and George Papadis were also present.

The much discussed phrase about “pimps” in the Bairaktari tavern October 2004

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has just completed seven months in power and is setting the table for deputies from the Third Summer New Democracy Department. Choose the “Bairaktaris” tavern in Monastiraki. During the discussion, which took place in a relaxed atmosphere, the developments of the next “main shareholder” law are discussed, which sought to exclude individuals or legal entities that have economic relations with the State from ownership of the media.

There, according to those present, Mr. Karamanlis stated that “I will not let five peddlers and five other centers manipulate the political life of the place, because they are easily manageable. As long as we do our job as legislators and the Justice does its job. “A little later, circles of the Palace of the Maxims, when asked about the characterization of” scammers “, stressed that the prime minister did not use that phraseology, although today there are deputies who insist that this is exactly what was said.

Antonis Samaras’ dinner next to his house

The dinner delivery, however, was continued by the next president of New Democracy, Antonis Samaras. In the winter of 2013 he received the members of his Parliamentary Group in the “O Vassilis” tavern in Kifissia, which is located almost next to his house. In addition, since then I visited him frequently, to enjoy the special hamburger with tomato and empanadas. The purpose of the dinner is to strengthen relations between the deputies of the “blue” faction.

“George, we eat here, it doesn’t have green tea.”

In mid-September 2019, Dora Bakoyannis organized a dinner for the members of all the parties participating in the plenary session and the committees of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe as head of the Greek delegation, at the Mitsotakis family home in Glyfada.

Among the guests is George Papandreou, to whom the “blue” deputy Fotini Pipili, who was present, vividly refers:. George was looking at me. “We eat here, there is no green tea here.” George Papandreou laughed and said “No, no, Fotini, I’m ready.” I say “be careful because even if we see you without eating, we will have a bad time”. For the story, the dinner featured, among other things, wonderful eggplants.