The presidential couple of France arrived at the Presidential Palace for an official welcome by the German state leadership.
The President of the Republic Constantine Tasoulas and his wife received the President Emanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, shortly after 21:00.
The French President’s arrival followed his discussion with the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Roman Agora of Athens.
During the visit, the Emanuel Macron signed the Presidential Palace’s visitors’ book and had a private meeting with the Greek President.
Then, they will attend the official dinner hosted by Mr. Tassoulas in honor of the French presidential couple, in the presence of the political and military leadership, as well as representatives of the business world from Greece and France.
It is noted that the Prime Minister is not accompanied by his wife, who remains at Evaggelismos Hospital.
The guests
In addition to the leaders, then, the following have received an invitation to the dinner at the Presidential Palace:
The Speaker of the Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, Archbishop Ieronymos, Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, PASOK President Nikos Androulakis, Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the Minister of Defence Nikos Dendias, the Minister of Development Takis Theodorikakos, the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Papadopoulou.
At the same time, the Governor of the BoE Giannis Stournaras, the Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces Dimitris Houpis, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Giannis Bratakos will be present at the dinner,Spyros Theodoropoulos, the president of the SEV Spyros Theodoropoulos, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the Parliament Dora Bakoyannis and the chairman of the France-Greece Friendship Committee Spyros Koulkoudinas.
The French delegation is just as strong, with Defence Minister Catherine Vautrain, Economy Minister Rolande Lesquiur, Deputy Minister of State for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad, Culture Minister Catherine Pegard,as well as a team of advisers flanking Macron.
Also attending the dinner will be former French deputy minister Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Eyagoras Mavrommatis and Marietta Karamanlis, a member of the French National Assembly.
The table will include market players, both Greek and French.
From Greece: Evangelos Mytilineos (METLEN), Giorgos Koros (Salamis Shipyards), shipowners Thanasis and Panos Laskaridis, Melina Traylou (Union of Greek Shipowners), Panagiotis Theocharakis, Tasos Rosolis (Association of Greek Defence Manufacturers), the CEO of the Zolotas Group Giorgos Papalexis, and the General Manager of L’Oréal Hellas Alessandra Delfini.
From France: The “giants” of defence and industry, such as Pierre-Eric Pomayet (Naval Group), Eric Trapier (Dassault), Eric Beranger (weapons systems company MBDA), Stephen Bouzna (Euronext), Tierry Doe (Meridiam) and Nexans general manager Julien Hubert.
The evening at the Presidential Palace will not lack the intense aroma of art.
Among the faces who will be present will be the presenter Nikos Aliagas and the director Kostas Gavras, while confirmations from the iconic performer Nana Mouskouri and the actress Ariana Labed are expected.
Significant representation is also expected from the Culture and Education sectors, as the Presidency’s invitation has been extended to:
The general director of the Acropolis Museum Nikos Stambolidis, the administrative director of the Niarchos Foundation Vassilis Kaskarelis, the director of the Byzantine Museum Calliope Kalafati, the president of the Museum of Cycladic Art Sandra Marinopoulos, the president of the National Archaeological Museum Ioanna Drettas, the president of INEDIVIM Anna Rokofyllou, the president of the Louvre Museum Christophe Leribo and others.
