Greece bids farewell to Ioannis Varvitsiotis, the last Karamanlis-era politician, at Athens funeral

A final farewell at the Metropolis

The funeral of Ioannis Varvitsiotis took place on 4 August at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, with military honours. President Konstantinos Tasoulas, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, former president Prokopis Pavlopoulos, former prime minister Antonis Samaras, and other senior officials attended. Varvitsiotis died at his home in Athens on 2 August, his 93rd birthday. The service brought together figures from across the political spectrum, reflecting the respect he commanded beyond party lines.

A son's tribute

His son Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, speaking on behalf of the four children, described a father who was present for the important moments and taught by example. He recalled that for others he was the president, the minister, but for the family he was "Barbi". Miltiadis said his father loved life, hated waste, and found joy in a simple taverna listening to his favourite singer Grigoris Bithikotsis.

Father, you do not belong only to us. You belong to history.

He also revealed that his decision to leave politics had saddened his father, but in the end his father vindicated him. Miltiadis stressed that his father taught them dignity and duty, and that even when wronged, he never thought of harming the party. He called him the last Karamanlis-era politician.

Prime Minister's eulogy

Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered a eulogy describing Varvitsiotis as "made of the rare metal of another era". He highlighted his role in the 2001 constitutional revision as rapporteur for the minority, and his combination of creative radicalism with a sense of duty. Mitsotakis recalled receiving valuable advice from him, especially during a visit to the family's ancestral home in Mystras in 2017.

Respected Giannis, you leave us a heavy legacy. Responsibility towards the homeland. Authentic political courtesy. For all this, Greece and our party thank you.

The prime minister noted that Varvitsiotis was an excellent jurist and a passionate student of history, who also produced a series of documentaries.

A life in politics

Ioannis Varvitsiotis was born on 2 August 1933. He first entered parliament in 1961 with the National Radical Union (ERE). During the 1967–1974 dictatorship he was arrested and imprisoned for four months. In the first post-junta elections in 1974 he topped the nationwide vote and joined the government of national unity under Konstantinos Karamanlis as undersecretary of the interior. He later served as minister of defence, education, commerce, and justice, and as vice-president of New Democracy. He was also vice-president of the European People's Party from 1989 to 1996.

I believed and still believe that politicians ought to shape events, not be shaped by them.

His son recalled another maxim: "In politics you make opponents, not enemies."

A legacy of integrity

His granddaughter, in her eulogy, said that integrity and honesty were for him a way of life, not just public virtues. She recalled that even during late-night card games, he insisted on following the rules, teaching her that character is revealed when no one is watching. The funeral closed with the sense that Varvitsiotis had passed on a code of conduct as much as a political inheritance.