On April 23, 1998 a little after 2:00 am former minister of Foreign Affairs and close associate, Petros Moliviatis formally announced the death of Konstantinos G. Karamanlis. The father of our democracy died at the age of 92 at the Ygeia Hospital from severe heart failure.
The elderly statesman, whose political career spanned five decades, founded the New Democracy party following his triumphant return to Greece from self- imposed exile in Paris in the wake of the collapse of a seven-year military dictatorship in July 1974 .
He served as prime minister four times and was elected twice as head of state.
In December 1974 he ordered a referendum in which 70 percent of the electorate voted for the abolition of the monarchy and the setting up of a presidential republic.
Following his death, his nephew, Costas Karamanlis, the former leader of the New Democracy party and ex-premier of Greece said in a statement: "Constantine Karamanlis, the great and inspired leader, whose creative work changed Greece's destiny has entered history. The vision and principles of our (party's) founder will always inspire and guide us."
Indeed.
Karamanlis is one of Europe's most revered politicians, a conservative patriarch, he not only oversaw the re-introduction of democracy in Greece, but also carved out a niche for our country in the West by engineering its entry into the European Community in 1981.
In an era suffering from a deep political, economic and social crisis, that at the same time is in dire need of proper representation, human resources and national guidance, Greece needs personalities such as that of Konstantino G. Karamanlis, now more than ever.
He will always be remembered.
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