By Antonis Anzoletou

The departure of former prime ministers, party leaders, ministers or even MPs from politics has proven to be not an easy task. In many cases, power “seduces” experienced top officials of governments and parties who do not want to admit that “the end has come”. To Costas Karamanlis his political opponents may have harshly criticized him for the period of his government, but everyone recognized the decision he took at the age of 67 to close his cycle in the Parliament. Giving an example of renewal. It is recalled that the former prime ministers do not need a cross of preference to be elected, they simply choose the region they wish to represent.

Fourteen years after she handed over her presidency New Republic the former prime minister declares that he will be on the side of the faction founded by Konstantinos Karamanlis from another post, although the opposition insists on reminding him of his recent placement by Anogeia on the case of surveillance. Regarding the void that will be created in A’ Thessaloniki, the information even brings Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself to consider covering it in a symbolic move.

In approximately the same way, he had announced his retirement from political life and Konstantinos Mitsotakis. A few days before the polls were set up, on January 23, 2004, having completed almost half a century of parliamentary life, speaking to the Central Committee of the New Democracy, he announced his decision not to be a candidate in the March elections. He had resigned from the presidency of the party immediately after his defeat in the 1993 elections. Konstantinos Mitsotakis had spoken 19 years ago about the need to renew political life, assuring that he would be present in the battle for the victory of New Democracy and underlining that it is the only party that can offer perspective to the country.

A few days ago, she announced her departure from the Parliament and the KKE ballots Aleka Papariga. After 30 years of presence in the seats of the Plenary, the former general secretary of the party closed a long cycle marked by many historical moments. Among the former prime ministers who decided to leave active politics is Kostas Simitis. This was in 2007 when he was 71 years old. From 18 January 1996 to 10 March 2004, he was the longest serving prime minister.

THE Charilaos Florakis on December 21, 1991, at the 14th Congress of the KKE, he was unanimously elected honorary president of the party, after he had previously asked not to participate in the newly elected Central Committee. He was elected for the first time as an MP in 1974 and last in 1990. It is a fact that compared to 30 years ago, politicians make the decision to leave the public more quickly and easily. Charilaos Florakis was already 79 years old when he left the Parliament.

THE Andreas Papandreou passed away in 1996 and was re-elected prime minister at the age of 74 in 1993. It was certainly a period when his return to political affairs against his great rival Konstantinos Mitsotakis – and then the Special Court – was considered imperative, paving the way for PASOK to remain in government for 11 consecutive years.

THE Konstantinos Karamanlis handed over the prime ministership to Georgios Ralli in 1980 at the age of 73 before being elected president of the Republic twice (1980-1985, 1990-1995).