Funeral for former Greek politician Giorgos Souflias set for Monday

Giorgos Souflias, a prominent and influential figure in post-dictatorship Greek politics, has passed away at the age of 85.

His funeral service will take place on Monday at the Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary in the Papagou cemetery. The family has requested that, in lieu of floral tributes, donations be made in his memory to the organization "The Smile of the Child."

Born in Agia, Larissa in 1941, Souflias studied Civil Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens. He began his political career in 1974, serving as a Member of Parliament for Larissa with New Democracy for decades. During his long government tenure, he held critical ministerial positions, including at the Ministry of National Economy and Finance in the early 1990s, navigating the country through a transitional economic period. He was also known for his reformist initiatives and contributions to educational policy.

Souflias is particularly remembered for his role in the completion and planning of emblematic infrastructure projects across Greece during the governments of Kostas Karamanlis. These included major road networks, the expansion of the Athens Metro, and significant environmental projects. Known within political circles and among journalists as "the wise man of the party," he was respected for his straightforwardness, technocratic expertise, and ability to synthesize diverse viewpoints, earning admiration from both his party colleagues and political opponents. His passing marks the end of an era for the center-right party and a significant chapter in Greek political life.