The first congratulations from counterparts and other officials poured in on Thursday afternoon with the election of Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis as the new president of the Eurogroup, a landmark development that sees the head of the east Mediterranean country’s economy assuming the post a decade after the specter of ‘Grexit’ loomed over the continent.

Pierrakakis, amongst the most prominent members of the Mitsotakis government and praised as among the “architects” of the Greek state’s accelerated digitalization since 2019, was elected – unanimously – in the first round after his Belgian counterpart dropped out of the selection process.

Eleven finance ministers of Eurozone member-states participated in the Eurogroup session.

Mitsotakis

On his part, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to a “day of pride for the country,” adding that this development “is the most emphatic recognition of the positive course of our country.”

“Greece has proven in practice that fiscal consistency is a prerequisite for improving its credibility. And, furthermore, that it can, in combination with bold reforms, go hand in hand with dynamic growth. Growth that creates jobs and ultimately returns dividends to citizens,” he said.

Von der Leyen