A reception at the Presidential Mansion, marking the 51st anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece was overshadowed by a tense and awkward encounter between the prime minister and opposition leaders, highlighting the country's toxic political climate.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis publicly expressed his frustration after a brief meeting with key opposition figures, including Nikos Androulakis of Pasok and Socratis Famellos of Syriza.
“It is very difficult to pretend we are socializing casually with interlocutors who accuse us with derogatory and vulgar terms,” Mr. Mitsotakis told reporters, referring to labels like "gang" and "mafia" used by his political opponents.
In response, Mr. Famellos reportedly told the prime minister that "the government gives reason for such labels to be used," linking the characterizations to a case file from the European prosecutor.
The mood among the political leaders was described as visibly cold.
The event, meant to commemorate the end of the military dictatorship in 1974, instead underscored the deep divisions in contemporary Greek politics.