Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expresses his condolences for the death of Yiannis Boutaris.

“Thessaloniki, Northern Greece and the whole country say goodbye to a special personality. Yiannis Boutaris was not only a visionary mayor of his beloved city. Not only an iconic entrepreneur and pioneer of ecology as the founder of “Arkturos”. Above all he was a worthy citizen. And an “eupatridis of everyday life” mentions in his message.

And he continues:

“A warm person, who knew how to face and bravely overcome problems. And, at the same time, to adore art, open like an eternal teenager to all youth currents. His presence was identified, thus, both with polite behavior and with radical thinking.

I am proud that he honored me with his friendship, as his spirit always remained far from the prison of dogmas and complexes. This is what I found out in our last, unfortunately, meeting, just before the last elections, when he hosted me in his famous winery.

I have kept the peace in his smile ever since. The spark in his eyes. And the calm in his words. This is how he will be remembered by those who knew him. But even those who did not happen to meet him in person, will surely keep him in their memory like this. Because, indeed, Mr. John had a special radiance that will last…

My sincere condolences to his family.”