Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis serves as best man at Romanian finance minister's wedding

Ceremony and political guest list

Romanian Interim Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare, 46, will marry traditional folk music performer Maria Mihali, 30, in Bucharest on Saturday, 12 September 2026. The religious ceremony is scheduled to take place at Cașin Monastery in the capital, followed by a formal evening banquet in the northern Băneasa neighborhood. The wedding brings together prominent Romanian political figures, with President Nicușor Dan and interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan expected among the guests. Bolojan faces a divided schedule on Saturday, as his head of cabinet, Ana Smărăndița Irina, is also getting married in Covasna county to Romanian Post director Valentin Ștefan. While top state officials plan to attend Nazare's reception, representatives of the Social Democratic Party chose to maintain distance from the celebration.

The Eurogroup president as best man

Serving as the couple's best man and godfather is Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the Greek Minister of Economy and Finance and sitting president of the Eurogroup. The 43-year-old official was elected Eurogroup president in December 2025, taking office on 12 December 2025 for a two-and-a-half-year mandate after previously serving as Greece's minister of digital governance from 2019 to 2023 and education minister from 2023 to 2025. Pierrakakis holds degrees in computer science from Athens University of Economics and Business, alongside master's degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Nazare and Pierrakakis first established contact in 2020 during Romania's campaign to host the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre, when Pierrakakis led the Greek digital ministry. Their working connection evolved over the following years into a close personal friendship. Nazare spoke about the choice of his counterpart for the role.

Beyond the professional relationship, the fact that he chose to be my best man is a very special honor and joy for me.

Bilateral ties and political backdrop

Ahead of the wedding festivities, the two finance ministers held formal talks in Bucharest on Friday, 11 September 2026. Their working agenda focused on bilateral economic ties, cross-border investments, economic competitiveness, digitalization projects, and capital market integration between Romania and Greece. Pierrakakis also attended an official meeting with Romanian President Nicușor Dan during his visit to the capital. Nazare spoke to reporters regarding his long-standing bond with the Greek minister and their joint work.

I have been colleagues with my best man for a long time, we are very close and we have been friends for many years. It is an honor for me to have him by my side.

The wedding takes place during broader negotiations regarding the formation of Romania's next executive cabinet. Nazare's name has circulated among political figures as a possible prime ministerial nominee to resolve the executive deadlock.

The bride and personal background

The bride, Maria Mihali, was born on 14 April 1996 in Baia Mare, Maramureș, and performs traditional folk music, religious hymns known as pricesne, and Christian folk songs. Mihali studied mathematics and informatics in high school before moving to Cluj-Napoca for higher education at Babeș-Bolyai University. She graduated from the Faculty of Business and completed a master's degree in business development management, though she ultimately chose to concentrate on her music career. Nazare and Mihali maintained a private relationship for approximately two years before deciding to hold their wedding in Bucharest. Before the religious ceremony at Cașin Monastery, Nazare noted that the wedding would honor local traditions from Maramureș.

I am waiting for her. I was very curious to see the dress, but I kept the secret. We will keep the traditions, she really wants to keep these traditions. In Maramureș you know that traditions are preserved very well. I am more emotional than ever.