THE Giannis Oikonomou reserved special mention in the last section of today’s introductory statement to inform the political editors, as he said goodbye to the position of Government Representative, since from Sunday the restrictions imposed by the electoral law on candidates with a preference cross for their appearances in the M.M.E..

The briefing to the political editors on Thursday was the last of Yiannis Oikonomou, since he assumed this position, as he will be a candidate again in the Prefecture of Fthiotida.

615 total days with about 160 briefings and hundreds of statementss, he thanked his colleagues in the Government and the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, for the trust shown in him by assigning him this critical position. Analytically:

“In closing, will you allow me a personal reference. From Sunday, the restrictions that the electoral law imposes on candidates with a preference cross for parliamentarians for their appearances in the M.E. begin. Today, a cycle of 615 days closes for me with 160 in Athens, 8 in Thessaloniki, updates of the political editors and hundreds of political statements. On the first day from here I said that I would try to delimit this step politically and respond honestly and respectfully to your work, the work of journalists. I want to hope that I have fulfilled this commitment and tried to answer all your questions here as well, but also on the phone in a civil way only.

I would like to thank, personally and institutionally, all the political editors for the cooperation we have had during this time. I consider that it was a politically productive collaboration in very difficult times for our Homeland, but also for the whole world. We spent turbulent days together, starting with the fires of 2021, the third phase of the pandemic, natural disasters, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the tension with Turkey, the accuracy crisis and the tragedy of Tempe. At the same time, I was given the privilege of being the Spokesman of a Government, which produced a very rich work and gave me material and arguments, with its policies and practical results, to stand before you with confidence and with arguments. To stand boldly and honestly, through you, towards the Greek citizens and to inform them about our governmental work.

I would like to thank the Director of the Prime Minister’s Press Office, Mr. Mr. Tsiodra, and all the staff of the Press Office, my colleagues in the General Secretariat of Information and the employees, the Deputy Spokesperson. I would like to thank for the fruitful collaboration I had with all my colleagues, Ministers and Deputy Ministers in the Government and of course the Prime Minister, who gave me the opportunity to be the institutional voice of such a Government.

Today, handing over the role of Government Representative to the Minister of State, to my good friend Akis Skertsos, I can say that I am not sad because this course is over, I am smiling because it happened. Because from every end, it is the starting point from which new beginnings spring.”