Relatives, friends, and colleagues paid their final respects to Yannis Varvitsiotis, who passed away on Sunday, August 2, at the age of 93, according to the Metropolis of Athens, where the funeral service was held, attended by relatives, friends, political allies, political opponents, and members of the public.
In attendance were the President of the Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas; the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis; the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis; former President of the Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos, former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, former Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis, former PASOK President Evangelos Venizelos, and the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas.
Also in attendance were ministers, numerous members of parliament, government officials, and secretaries-general of various ministries, including the Secretary-General for Communication and Information, Dimitris Kirmikiroglu.
«Today we bid farewell to a politician who did not merely pass through public life but, together with others of his generation, shaped it,» said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, noting that Yannis Varvitsiotis, throughout his long career, took on every mission he was asked to undertake.
«He was there for every battle he had to fight. The drafting of the Constitution stands out among them. “I believed, and I still believe, that politicians must shape circumstances rather than be shaped by them,” he had said. Beloved by friends and political opponents alike. »I, too, had worked closely with him as a close associate of my father. I cherish his valuable advice,” Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized, among other things.
«Now his life story plays out in all our minds like a documentary. By the side of Konstantinos Karamanlis. A worthy family man. He was blessed to see his children succeed. Fate decreed that he would pass away on his birthday, watching his homeland move forward despite the difficulties. Our esteemed Yiannis, you leave us a heavy legacy. A sense of responsibility toward our homeland. Genuine political nobility. For all of this, Greece and our party thank you,» the prime minister emphasized.
Yannis Varvitsiotis’s son, Miltiadis, noted in his eulogy that his father had been strict and fair.
«You loved life and creativity. Everyone has something good to say about your journey,» he said, among other things, noting that Yannis Varvitsiotis showed the way with his advice.
«My decision to leave politics saddened you. In the end, though, you proved me right. You taught us what dignity means, what it means to live by one’s principles,» he added.
«Today we bid farewell to the last of the Karamanlis loyalists who served the national leader from the ERE until the very end,» he emphasized, adding: «You knew Greece very well from one end to the other. You loved and were loved by ordinary people. You wanted Greece to move forward without leaving anyone behind.».
«When the time came, you were the one who passed the torch to the next generation. You didn’t consider the political cost. You fought for democracy and were imprisoned for it. You believed in Europe and worked toward our European path. Our father was a great parliamentarian. He always told me that a member of parliament’s place is in the House, not on TV,» he noted, emphasizing: «On major institutional issues, he sought consensus. This balance characterized his entire political career. If someone were to ask us what his greatest legacy was, we would say it was the way he served in public office.».
Mr. Varvitsiotis also spoke about his father's literary work.
«You didn’t want to leave behind just memories; you wanted to leave a legacy. You loved Laconia deeply. You wanted to connect us to this historic and blessed land,» he emphasized, concluding: «Father, you lived a full life, and you departed having earned the respect of friends and foes alike, the appreciation of all who worked with you, and the love of your family. Father, you no longer belong only to us. You belong to history. Have a safe journey. Thank you for everything.».
«It is an honor to be your granddaughter,» said Sophia, Yannis Varvitsiotis’s granddaughter, visibly moved, among other things.
N. Armenis
