The news of Stefanos Manos‘s death has cast a shadow of grief over the Greek political world. The former minister passed away at the age of 87, following years of health problems. Greece’s political establishment united in bidding farewell to Stefanos Manos, with tributes pouring in across social media. Over his decades-long career, Manos became synonymous with the promotion of liberal economic policies and interventions that frequently sparked fierce political debate.
Read also: Former minister Stefanos Manos dies aged 87 after years of health problems
Mitsotakis on Stefanos Manos: “An unconventional politician with modern views that were ahead of his time”
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his grief at the passing of Stefanos Manos in a social media post, describing the late politician as “an unconventional politician with modern and catalytic positions that were often ahead of his time.”
The Prime Minister’s full Facebook post read:
“It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Stefanos Manos — a politician of exceptional character and undeniable contribution to public life. Not only through his actions as a minister or member of parliament, but also through his often radical views, which he never hesitated to defend to the last. From his rich legacy, we should remember his role in landmark reforms: bringing mobile telephony to Greece, signing off on the Athens Metro and the Rio-Antirrio Bridge, and the bold institutionalization of pedestrian zones and the protection of traditional settlements.
I knew Stefanos Manos as a close associate of Konstantinos Mitsotakis and as a minister in his government. I witnessed firsthand his liberal thinking, as well as his sometimes unorthodox but always constructive character. That is why I remember him more for his work than for his various party affiliations over the years. In any case, he was a truly unconventional politician — with modern, catalytic positions that were frequently ahead of his time. He deserves to be remembered as a presence that made its own distinct contribution to the political life of our country and to public discourse. My sincere condolences to his family.”
Nikitas Kaklamanis: “He had an unceasing desire to contribute and to renew ideas”
The President of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, expressed his deep sorrow at the loss of Stefanos Manos: “I bid farewell to Stefanos Manos, a distinguished public figure who left his mark on the post-junta political history of our country,” he said in a statement, adding: “Stefanos Manos’s political career spanned more than three decades. He was first elected to parliament in 1977 with New Democracy and served the legislature and the country with dedication, courage, and unwavering commitment to his principles. Throughout his long career, he held critical portfolios, serving among other roles as Minister of National Economy and Finance, and as Minister of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, leaving behind a substantial and distinctive body of work. With an unceasing desire to contribute and to renew ideas, he was the founder of the Liberal party and co-founder of Drasi. Throughout his career, he stood out for his consistency, his straightforward political discourse, and his work ethic.”
Kaklamanis concluded by offering his sincere and heartfelt condolences to Manos’s family and loved ones.
Kostis Hatzidakis: “Stefanos Manos leaves behind a powerful legacy of achievement and reform”
Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis bid farewell to Stefanos Manos “with great emotion.” In a post on social media, he wrote: “Stefanos Manos is gone, leaving behind a powerful legacy — a legacy of achievement and reform. As a minister, he is associated with landmark projects such as Athens’s first pedestrian zones, the preservation and revival of the Plaka district, the advancement of the Metro and Athens International Airport, and the design of the Attiki Odos motorway. He is equally associated with battles to reduce the size of the public sector and to free the economy from unnecessary bureaucratic constraints.
Unconventional, stubborn, persistent in his beliefs, and indifferent to criticism — he was the very opposite of a public relations politician. Ahead of his time, his work was not always appreciated when he was pushing for it. It is telling that his urban planning interventions in Athens cost him his parliamentary seat in 1981. Yet he always found the strength to press on with his reforms and his battles. And he had a way of commanding all of our attention right up until his final years, even when he was no longer active in politics — even when we sometimes disagreed with him.”
The Deputy Prime Minister concluded: “We liberals will always remember him with respect — not only for his liberal ideas, but as an example of an open-minded, forward-thinking, and pragmatic politician who was ultimately vindicated because he ignored the political cost and persevered with his work. I will remember him from the early seminars he gave to DAPA party members in the 1980s, right through to the valuable observations he offered me both as Minister of Transport and as Minister of Environment and Energy. I bid him farewell with great emotion and sorrow. Godspeed, Stefanos Manos!”
Akis Skertzos: “Stefanos Manos was endlessly useful as an engaged and rational citizen”
“To be involved in politics without seeking to be popular, but remaining endlessly useful as an engaged and rational citizen — that, for me, is the political legacy of Stefanos Manos.” With these words, Minister of State Akis Skertzos paid his final tribute to the late politician.
He added in his post: “We bid him farewell with respect, sadness, and gratitude for the distinctive path he carved in public affairs until the very end, and for the unquestionable body of work he passed on to future generations. My sincere condolences to his loved ones.”
Kyriakos Pierrakakis: “Stefanos Manos left a meaningful reformist legacy”
Finance Minister and Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis paid tribute to Stefanos Manos’s reformist legacy and what he described as his “inexhaustible curiosity,” marking his passing with a post on social media.
Offering his condolences to Manos’s family and loved ones, Pierrakakis described him as “a powerful, distinctive voice in public life,” noting that he was one of those figures you could agree or disagree with, but who always had something meaningful to add to public debate. “Until the very end, he remained young in his thinking — restless, pragmatic, effective, with a consistent skepticism toward the idea that ‘this is just the way things are done,'” he wrote, noting that Manos was always searching for new ideas and better solutions.
Pierrakakis made particular reference to Manos’s political legacy both as Minister of National Economy and Finance and in the fields of spatial planning, the environment, and urban policy. Closing on a personal note, he wrote: “Above all, I will remember his inexhaustible curiosity about what’s new. He never stopped thinking, proposing, and challenging constructively. I will miss our conversations.”
Adonis Georgiadis: “One of the most interesting and capable personalities in our political life”
“Stefanos Manos was one of the most interesting and capable personalities in our political life. Full of great ideas and decisive in character, he was never afraid to clash with others when he believed he was doing the right thing. My sincere condolences to his family — he will be missed,” wrote Adonis Georgiadis.
SYRIZA-PS message of condolence
“Stefanos Manos, who passed away today at the age of 87, was for decades an active and prominent figure in the political and business life of our country. With a clear political and ideological identity, he served his liberal convictions with consistency and actively participated in public debate until the end of his life. SYRIZA-PS extends its sincere condolences to his family and loved ones,” the party said in a statement.
