Family, friends, former colleagues and leading figures from Greece’s political world gathered in Kifisia on Thursday to bid a final farewell to Stefanos Manos, the former minister and one of the country’s most distinctive political voices of the post-junta era.
The funeral was held in an atmosphere of grief and emotion, five days after Manos died on August 15 at the age of 86. He had faced serious health problems in recent years.
Manos leaves behind a long political career marked by strong views on economic reform, public administration and the role of the state — positions that often put him at odds with the political mainstream but also made him an influential voice in Greece’s public debate.
Political Leaders Gather in Kifisia
Among those attending the funeral were Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis, Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, Minister of State Akis Skertsos and Interior Minister Thodoris Livanios.
Former prime minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos, former finance minister George Alogoskoufis and Theodoros Skylakakis were also among those who came to pay their respects.
Their presence reflected Manos’ long involvement in Greek politics and the relationships he built over decades in public life.
A Long Career in Greek Politics
Manos served in a number of senior government positions, including as minister of National Economy and Finance and minister for the Environment.
Although much of his political career was associated with New Democracy, he later followed an independent political path.
He founded the Liberals party and later co-founded Drasi, remaining active in the public debate even after stepping away from frontline politics.
His economic views were frequently controversial. Manos consistently argued for a smaller and more efficient state, structural reforms, fiscal discipline and greater competition — ideas that often ran against prevailing political attitudes at the time.
His Mark on Athens
His political legacy was not confined to economic policy.
Manos’ name was associated with a number of important changes in Athens, including the redevelopment of Plaka, some of the capital’s first pedestrian zones and the introduction of dedicated bus lanes.
From government positions, he was also involved in the planning and promotion of major infrastructure projects that would later reshape the capital, including the Athens Metro, the new Athens International Airport at Spata and Attiki Odos.
Several of those projects went on to become fundamental parts of everyday life in modern Athens.
A Politician Who Rarely Avoided Controversy
Throughout his career, Manos was known for expressing his views directly, even when they were politically unpopular.
His positions on taxation, public spending, privatization and the size of the public sector repeatedly sparked political debate.
Supporters saw him as a reformer who was prepared to challenge established ideas. Critics often regarded his economic proposals as too liberal or politically difficult to implement.
Either way, he rarely left people indifferent.
That characteristic remained part of his public identity long after he had left ministerial office.
A Final Farewell
Away from politics, Stefanos Manos was a husband and the father of five children.
On Thursday, the political arguments that followed him throughout his career gave way to a quieter moment.
His family stood alongside friends, former colleagues and politicians from different periods of his public life to say goodbye to a man who spent decades trying — often provocatively and rarely conventionally — to shape the debate over Greece’s future.