Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is in Thessaloniki today to take part in the Ohi Day national holiday celebrations, one of the most important commemorations in Greece. The Prime Minister is expected to stay in the city for 24 hours and will attend Tuesday’s military parade, held annually to mark Greece’s rejection of the Italian ultimatum on October 28, 1940.
This year’s visit is seen as highly symbolic, as it marks Mitsotakis’s first appearance at Thessaloniki’s Ohi Day celebrations since 2019. Alongside him will be President Konstantinos Tasoulas and most opposition party leaders.
Full Schedule and Events
According to reports, Mitsotakis’s visit includes a series of meetings and events. He is expected to begin his stay with a visit to the National Centre for Research and Technological Development (EKETA), where he will meet with the institution’s leadership.
Later, he may attend the opening of a photo exhibition titled “Bringing History to Life,” hosted at the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace. The exhibition is dedicated to the heroes and events of 1940, a defining chapter in modern Greek history.
Depending on his schedule, the Prime Minister may also attend a ceremony unveiling a bust of fallen police officer Giorgos Lyggeridis, who was killed in the line of duty. The event is organized by Athens and Thessaloniki police unions at the park named in his honor.
Student Parade and Road Closures
Today, a student parade took place along Tsimiski Street in central Thessaloniki at 11:00 a.m., followed by wreath-laying ceremonies at local monuments.
Significant traffic restrictions are in effect throughout the city until the conclusion of tomorrow’s military parade. Parking and vehicle circulation are prohibited on major roads, including Megalou Alexandrou Avenue, Tsimiski Street, and Ethnikis Amynis Avenue. Similar measures have been announced for Athens and Piraeus, where parades are also scheduled.
Authorities have urged drivers to avoid the affected areas and remove vehicles from restricted streets to facilitate security and public access during the events.
National Reflection
Ohi Day, observed every October 28, commemorates Greece’s defiance of fascism during World War II, when the country rejected Mussolini’s demand to allow Axis forces to enter its territory. The refusal—“Ohi,” meaning “No” in Greek—led to Greece’s entry into the war and is celebrated nationwide with parades, flag displays, and patriotic ceremonies.
Source: tovima.com
