On February 6, 1922, as Greece teetered on the brink of catastrophe, a new voice emerged in the nation’s press. The first issue of ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ (To Vima)—then called ELEFTHERON BHMA (Eleftheron Vima or The Free Vima – “Vima” meaning “podium” in Greek)—hit the stands, destined to become one of Greece’s most influential newspapers.

At its helm was the visionary journalist Dimitrios Lambrakis, a close associate of Eleftherios Venizelos, Greece’s most prominent statesman of the early 20th century and leader of the Liberal Party. Lambrakis, alongside a circle of intellectuals, artists, and political figures, set out to create a newspaper that would champion progressive ideas in a nation deeply divided.

Greece, at the time, was in turmoil. The country’s military campaign in Asia Minor—a bold but ultimately doomed attempt to reclaim historic Greek lands from the crumbling Ottoman Empire—was dragging on with no clear victory in sight. Prime Minister Dimitrios Gounaris, the leader of the anti-Venizelist faction, presided over a nation riddled with political discord and uncertainty.

«ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΝ ΒΗΜΑ», 6.2.1922, Ιστορικό Αρχείο «ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ» & «ΤΑ ΝΕΑ»

Against this backdrop, Eleftheron Vima published its first editorial, capturing the tension and strife of the era:

The Demon of Discord
“Under the furious breath of a sudden storm, we see a once-diminished flame flickering again upon the extinguished hearth of the Acropolis. After illuminating with its brilliant glow the most triumphant path ever envisioned by the hopes and dreams of our enslaved brethren, it is now fading into the suffocating atmosphere of the most savage political hatred. The Demon of Discord now reigns supreme over Greece. And it is a profoundly thankless task for those who wish to engage in honest and sincere dialogue when, above all reason, unbridled passions reign supreme.”

From its inception, Eleftheron Vima firmly aligned itself with Venizelos and the Liberal Party, openly declaring in its mission statement:

“The program of Eleftheron Vima is the program of the Liberal Party, to which its founders and contributors belong. It is inspired by the principles of the 1909 popular revolution [referring to the Goudi Coup, which brought Venizelos to power]. It will resist any attempt to distort the Constitution and will strive to restore it to the democratic principles that guided the 1864 Charter—principles that upheld parliamentary institutions for fifty years until 1915.”

The newspaper also took a strong stance on foreign policy, advocating a return to Greece’s strategic alignment with Britain and France—an approach that had enabled the nation’s territorial expansion. In a stark critique of the anti-Venizelist governments that took power after November 1920, Eleftheron Vima lamented their failure to maintain this diplomatic course, warning that their missteps jeopardized Greece’s position in negotiations with Turkey and Italy.

Dimitrios Lambrakis: A Journalist with a Mission

Decades later, in 1987, journalist Michalis Kyriakidis—one of the earliest collaborators of Eleftheron Vima—reflected on its founder, Dimitrios Lambrakis:

“Above all, Lambrakis was a man of principle. He sacrificed everything to support his beliefs, dedicating his career to the Liberal Party. He started as a teacher, volunteered in the Macedonian Struggle [the early 20th-century guerrilla war against Ottoman rule in northern Greece], and then came to Athens to become a journalist. He first worked for Patrida before founding Eleftheron Vima.”

Lambrakis’ political convictions often put him at odds even with his own allies. He strongly opposed the 1935 coup attempt by Venizelist officers, warning that it would only deepen national divisions—a prediction that proved tragically accurate. When he later stood trial for his political affiliations, he refused to defend himself, submitting only a written statement to avoid implicating his co-defendants.

«TO ΒΗΜΑ», 13.8.1957, Ιστορικό Αρχείο «ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ» | «ΤΑ ΝΕΑ»

A Talent-Spotter Like No Other

Beyond politics, Lambrakis had an uncanny ability to recognize and nurture journalistic talent. Kyriakidis recalled how some of Greece’s most celebrated writers got their start thanks to him:

  • Dimitris Psathas, later one of Greece’s most beloved satirists, was working as a low-level office assistant when he was sent to pick up legal documents. While waiting, he scribbled down his observations of the courtroom. His notes ended up on Lambrakis’ desk. “Who wrote this?” he asked. When told it was the office clerk, he immediately promoted him.
  • Fokion Dimitriadis, a future legendary political cartoonist, was working in finance when Lambrakis happened to see one of his sketches. His reaction? “Bring him in immediately.”
  • Paulos Palaiologos, a journalist of sharp wit and incisive commentary, was still emerging when Lambrakis spotted his potential and propelled him to prominence.

The newspaper quickly became a hub for Greece’s literary and intellectual elite. Nikos Kazantzakis, the famed author of Zorba the Greek, wrote for To Vima, as did Stratis Myrivilis and Elias Venezis, both acclaimed novelists of the Asia Minor Catastrophe. Even Kostis Palamas, the revered poet who penned the Olympic Hymn, was a regular contributor.

«ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΝ ΒΗΜΑ», 17.2.1924, Ιστορικό Αρχείο «ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ» | «ΤΑ ΝΕΑ»

“The Newspaper of the Future”

By the late 1920s, Eleftheron Vima had become a dominant force in Greek journalism, rivaled only by Kathimerini, founded by the influential publisher Georgios Vlachos. Even Vlachos himself recognized the power of his competition. When journalist Michalis Kyriakidis, then working for Kathimerini, received an offer to join TO BHMA, he sought Vlachos’ advice. The response was unequivocal:

“Go, my boy. Go. That’s the newspaper of the future.”

Over the decades, TO BHMA evolved into a cornerstone of Greek journalism, shaping public discourse and political thought. It was more than just a newspaper—it was a battleground of ideas, a force that influenced the course of Greek history. And it all began in 1922, at a time when Greece was standing at the edge of a precipice, in need of voices that dared to speak out.