The official guests of the Presidency of the Republic arrive at the Presidential Palace shortly after 7 pm on Wednesday. Going down to the garden, one meets the Guardsmen of the Presidential Guard who stand with the discipline that characterizes them. After the steps, on the left are the resistance fighters and on the right are the political leaders and Katerina Sakellaropoulou’s special guests for the 50th anniversary of the Restoration of Democracy.
Groups mingle and discuss many topics. The atmosphere is pleasant as it should be at a reception that reminds that despite the differences, the Republic unites everyone.
The guests are all on time following protocol. Just before the President of the Republic begins her speech, the national anthem is played. Conversations stop abruptly and everyone stands respectfully.
“Today is a historic day. Fifty years after the return to Greece of Konstantinos Karamanlis and the restoration of democracy, the memories remain very much alive. We are filled with emotion and gratitude to those who fought with self-sacrifice against the dictatorship”, notes Mrs. Sakellaropoulou at the beginning of her speech.
The President of the Republic, concluding her speech, greets and welcomes everyone. The political leaders have already done the formal handshakes with each other in a cold but good atmosphere. Between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Stefanos Kasselakis sits the Speaker of the Parliament, Konstantinos Tasoulas. Next to the president of SYRIZA, Nikos Androulakis, Dimitris Koutsoubas, Alexis Haritsis, Zoe Konstantopoulou and the Chief of the National Defence General Staff (NDGS).
Leaders Kyriakos Velopoulos and Dimitris Natsios were absent, wanting to express in this way their disagreement on the marriage equality bill that passed earlier this year. On the other hand, Vassilis Stigas of the Spartans has not been invited.
After the President of the Republic has greeted the resistance fighters as well as the guests from society together with the political leaders they head towards the pavilion. There, that is, the political leaders are “forced” to sit together. Katerina Sakellaropoulou sits in the middle and gives the pass to start the conversation between them.
