The Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, represented on Sunday 1 February 2026, the President of the Government at the official statue unveiling ceremony of the First Governor of Greece, Ioannis Kapodistrias, and the renaming of “Dimarchiou Square” into “Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias” Square that was held at the “Mikis Theodorakis” Cultural – Convention Center in the Municipality of Ellinikon – Argyroupoli.
Mr. Dendias noted in his address:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a tremendous honour for me to have the opportunity to speak today about Ioannis Kapodistrias. One of the greatest politicians in our modern history, who, I dare say, has not been given the place he deserves in our collective consciousness.
In this regard, dear Mr. Mayor, your initiative is commendable.
I must also say that – and this is very important – Mr. Smaragdis’ film brought Kapodistrias back into the spotlight, because that is what happened, into the center of attention and public consciousness.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
We need to know certain things. We need to take another look at our history, because the younger generation in particular has left pieces of it behind. Perhaps they know the broad outlines, and sometimes not even those. And why am I saying this?
Greece was not liberated from Navarino. It took two years of hard struggle when Ioannis Kapodistrias was the Ruler of Greece. Furthermore, it was not easy even for the borders of small Greece at that time to reach where they were without Ioannis Kapodistrias’ presence at the helm of our Homeland.
As a child, as a high school student, I had the opportunity to read, not hear, because I was not there at the time, the amazing speech by Konstantinos Tsatsos “the Palace of Saints George and Michael” about Ioannis Kapodistrias in 1976 – at that time, Konstantinos Tsatsos was President of the Hellenic Republic – in which he referred extensively to his personality. A small book has been published with this speech, and it is worth reading.
There, Konstantinos Tsatsos says that Greater Greece, to the extent that it was possible, was created by Venizelos; but Greece was created by Kapodistrias. He said this in 1976, when another great Greek politician was trying to establish the Greek democracy after the transition to democracy. I am referring to Konstantinos Karamanlis.
Kapodistrias attempted to establish a Greek state. And he died in the attempt. It was not an easy task. This became evident in the process of creating a modern European state. He succeeded in Switzerland by drafting the Swiss constitution. In Greece, he was simply assassinated outside Agios Spyridonas in Nafplio, on his way to church. The Mayor mentioned earlier what Greece would be like if he had not been assassinated so soon. Certainly, a much better country. We know that.
But, Ladies and Gentlemen, I will always remember something else from the remarkable speech by Konstantinos Tsatsos. Konstantinos Tsatsos says: “The great dead speak, and when one wants to, one can hear them”. Indeed, referring to himself, he says “Because I, Konstantinos Tsatsos, am now close to their country – implying that he is old and will soon leave the world – I can hear them perhaps better, more clearly.” But we can hear them too. And what we can hear clearly from what Ioannis Kapodistrias left us as a legacy is the need for our Homeland, our country, to have solid and strong institutions.
And indeed, speaking to you today, in 2026, here in Southern Athens, I want to tell you that his message still rings true today, and we owe it to ourselves to listen to it and put it into practice. Because even today, after so many years, 200 years after the Greek Revolution, shortly before we celebrate 200 years since the founding of the new Greek state, our Homeland needs institutional reinforcement.
We need to address Greek society and convince it once again, to rebuild its trust in the strength of institutions. Institutions that Kapodistrias tried and sacrifices himself to create.
In a few days, in a few weeks, a debate on constitutional reform will begin. Who among us can, for example, in the context of this reform, continue to defend the logic that the leadership of the Judiciary should be chosen by the Government of the day? Who among us does not see the crisis of credibility of institutions in Greek society?
And we must all work together, beyond party affiliations, blinders, and obligations, to reestablish – I use a heavy expression that was used in 2004 and did not lead to success – the institutions of the new Greek state.
What I am saying to a large extent concerns the institution for which I have the political responsibility. I am referring to our country’s Armed Forces, which we all honour and whose contribution we all recognize. However, we also understand that a great effort must be made in this area as well.
I would like to remind you, as I believe you are all aware, that the Military Academy was established by Ioannis Kapodistrias. However, these Armed Forces, which are the cornerstone of Greece’s existence – I am not telling you anything new – Greece faces, as it did then and now, a threat, a significant threat, an existential threat – they risked slipping, at least in part, into the DEKO regime of the 1980s. And it took, and still takes, a tremendous effort.
We had arrived at a situation, where there were far more high-ranking officers than low-ranking officers. Perhaps, you know, there is an international example, the Venezuelan army. It has 2.500 Generals!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our Homeland must follow examples. It must follow the examples of advanced countries, but above all it must draw inspiration from the examples set by enlightened individuals.
Ioannis Kapodistrias is the foremost among them. He expressed and continues to express a current of though, a perception of life, which indeed – and I thank the Mayor for saying so – crystallized in the Ionian Islands at the end of the 17th century and thereafter, gained momentum in the 18th century in particular. I am referring to the radicalism of the Ionian Islands.
The Mayor did well to say, “We were not a gift from Queen Victoria to the Kingdom of Greece”, things did not happen that way. And let me tell you something symbolic so that you know. Why is Corfu, the Homeland of Kapodistrias, so well known to most Greeks today? Because of its bands, its music. Few people know how the bands were created. How was the first band created? With its blue and red colours, we in Corfu call it “the old one”. It was created, Ladies and Gentlemen, because the British army refused to lend its band to accompany the procession of Saint Spyridon.
And did so in retaliation against the radicalism of the Ionian Islands. That is, the demand of the Ionian Islands to unite with mainland Greece. That is how they started. A small band at first, but huge today, together with the others.
I will conclude so as not to tire you. Mr. Mayor, you deserve praise, as do the Municipal Council and your citizens, who have supported and continue to support this effort, as well as the sculptor who created this statue, which will soon be unveiled to the public.
Because, as you said, what matters is not the aesthetic improvement of a square. It is the creation of role models for the younger generation. That is what you offer, and I congratulate you for it.
The ceremony was also attended by MP Sofia Voultepsi, representing the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Theocharis Thocharis, Deputy Minister of Interior Vasilis – Petros Spanakis, Deputy Minister for Tourism Anna Karamanli, MP Pavlos Christidis representing the President of PASOK – Movement for Change, MP Maria Athanasiou representing the President of Greek Solution, MPs Dionysios Hatzidakis, Pavlos Geroulanos, Nikos Vrettos, Ioannis Dimitrokallis, former Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, Dimitrios Metallinos representing Niki party, the Attika Regional Governor Nikos Chardalias, the Mayor of Ellinikon – Argyroupoli Giannis Konstantatos, the Ionian Islands Regional Governor Ioannis Trepeklis, Mayors of neighbouring and other Municipalities, the Ambassador of Switzerland Stefan Estermann, representatives of the Church of Greece, Security Forces, foreign diplomatic authorities, the diaspora, unions and associations of the Ionian Islands and Corfu.
The ceremony was also honoured with the presence of Natalia Kapodistria, last descendant of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the film director Giannis Smaragdis, the sculptor of the statue Giannis Bardis, representatives of Authorities and Entities, etc.
The Choir of the Corfu Association of Ilioupoli & Neighbouring Municipalities “The Phaeacians” also participated in the ceremony.
