The annual New Year’s Day coffee in central Athens is usually a low-key but symbolically charged moment in Greek political life: a chance for senior political leaders to exchange views away from formal settings. This year’s gathering in Kolonaki, however, included an unexpected personal revelation from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
According to those present, Mitsotakis shared that his son, Konstantinos, has proposed marriage to his partner, Maria Sakkari, one of Greece’s most prominent professional tennis players. The wedding is planned for 2027.
The prime minister spoke warmly about his future daughter-in-law, describing her as an exceptional young woman and saying he is very happy about the engagement. He also noted a personal coincidence: his son will be 28 at the time of the wedding, nearly the same age Mitsotakis himself was when he married. “I was 29 when I got married,” the prime minister said, drawing a lighthearted parallel between generations.
A New Year tradition with political undertones
The informal meeting, attended by the President of the republic Constantine Tassoulas, the Prime Minister, the speaker of Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, the Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis as well as several businessmen, is a long-standing New Year’s tradition. While informal in tone, it often serves as a setting for candid political exchanges and signals of upcoming initiatives.
Beyond the personal announcement, this year’s conversation also turned to institutional matters. Mitsotakis reiterated his intention to seek broader political consensus with PASOK to move forward with the appointment of three vacant leadership positions in independent authorities.
This initiative, which has been discussed previously, requires a qualified parliamentary majority. In that context, the prime minister reportedly asked Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis to accelerate procedures for convening the Conference of Presidents, aiming to secure the required three-fifths majority.
Photos from the New Year’s Day coffee in Kolonaki follow:
