In one of his rare interviews of this nature, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke to NewsAuto.gr and journalist Takis Trakousellis, choosing as the setting the Super Special Stage circuit of the EKO Acropolis Rally.

Far from the strict prime ministerial schedule and the formal tone of political interviews, the discussion unfolded while walking around the brand-new track, in an environment directly connected to motoring and motorsport. The Prime Minister appeared notably relaxed and answered all questions directly, without hesitation.

He spoke about his personal relationship with the car, his love of driving and the Acropolis Rally, recalled moments from Greece’s historic motorsport event, and did not hesitate to even predict this year’s winner.

The discussion also expanded to issues affecting citizens’ daily lives. “Acceleration is for the track. Acceleration is for safe conditions. That is why it is very important for us to have more circuits in our country. Acceleration is not for the road. Having driven for many decades and having all of us at some point in our lives made our own misdemeanours, I think we must send a strong message of responsibility which starts with the enforcement of the Highway Code,” he said.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis also addressed reactions from the hospitality sector regarding a reported decline in alcohol consumption, attributed to intensified breathalyser checks. “Breathalyser tests are, I think, a very big success because they are also changing people’s perceptions. It is becoming a social awareness, a social acquis, and I think that is the real success of this policy. I also like the fact that when breathalyser checks take place on the road and there may be some minor inconvenience, people do not ultimately complain because they understand it is for their own good,” he stated.

He also responded to a question on whether Greece could and intends to bid in the future to host a Formula 1 race, setting out his position on an issue that is widely discussed.

More unexpected questions also followed. When asked which political opponent he would choose as a co-driver in a racing car—while himself being the driver—his answer was Alexis Tsipras. Specifically, he replied: “Because I recently had the opportunity to sit as a co-driver—and when you sit as a co-driver with a driver in a car that does not have racing seats, you easily get dizzy, I would easily choose Alexis Tsipras because he has done so many pirouettes that if I were driving, he certainly would not get dizzy.”

In a relaxed mood, in a setting where he appeared genuinely at ease, the Prime Minister answered even the most demanding and sharp questions, offering a different image from that of the usual political interview.