Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis shared a humorous story about a football fan during a speech in Thessaloniki on Thursday.
Speaking at an event on regional development, Mitsotakis described listening to a local radio station where an angry caller demanded the return of star player Giannis Konstantelias over city metro plans.
The prime minister told attendees that while traveling to the venue, he tuned into local radio and heard a young man expressing his personal priorities. The caller, sounding frustrated on air, asked what metro the city was talking about and demanded that officials bring back Delias instead.
Mitsotakis said he told himself at the time that there was not much he could do about that particular request, noting with a smile that everyone has their own priorities.
Radio comments and football distinctions
Addressing the audience further on sports, the prime minister noted that without getting drawn into club rivalries, Greeks are always pleased when Greek footballers excel in European teams.
The player referenced by the caller, Giannis Konstantelias, is a prominent attacking midfielder widely known by his nickname Delias. He has earned national recognition playing for Thessaloniki club PAOK and representing the Greece national team in international competitions.
Regional strategy and Thessaloniki infrastructure
The humorous remark came during the prime minister's address at an event titled National Strategy for Regional and Local Development in Northern Greece. The gathering in Thessaloniki was organized to discuss broader economic and infrastructure goals for the region.
Following his main speech, Mitsotakis was scheduled to hold an extensive meeting with regional representatives, local authority officials, and community stakeholders from across Northern Greece to evaluate ongoing development projects.
The event coincided with key infrastructure updates in the city, including progress on the Thessaloniki Metro expansion serving the district of Kalamaria. Commenting on public investments, Mitsotakis stated that public funds are limited and that infrastructure milestones are delivered to serve residents rather than to secure votes.
Government tours across Northern Greece
The conference in Thessaloniki formed part of a broader government outreach effort across northern prefectures. Cabinet ministers and government delegations visited 16 prefectures across Macedonia and Thrace during the week to outline positive economic updates ahead of the annual Thessaloniki International Fair.
Government representatives noted that Thessaloniki is transitioning into a center for major completed infrastructure projects, with regional meetings continuing throughout the week to finalize local development plans.
