It could have been a joke, but it’s not. With laurels, cheers and carnation banners, voters of New Democracy in Patras, prepared a special “Messiah” welcome fiesta for Kyriakos Mitsotakis, something we have never seen again after Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on a donkey and was welcomed by a cheering crowd.
Voters paved the road with laurels even though it was clear the former prime minister, Messiah the Second, would not arrive on the back of a donkey.
At the same time, a group of his supporters marched with a carnations-decorated banner reading “Kyriako Achaia is with you.”
Based on the video below, it’s not clear if they also chanted “hosanna!” or “hallelujah!”
Πάτρα, η γενέτειρα μου, καρναβαλική πρωτεύουσα της χώρας. pic.twitter.com/cqkZskRFP4
— Tassos Morfis (@TassosMorfis) June 19, 2023
Note that “Messiah” was a description used by certain opinion makers in Greece for Kyriako Mitsotakis who apparently came close to his target in Patras.
On social media, lots of Greeks mocked the ‘messiah-fiesta’ in Patras and some even posted characteristic photo-shopped pictures.
Περα δωθε Αχαϊά τωρα
φωτο απο Anwar Jitou pic.twitter.com/1M7jsG5y7t
— Nellie Oleson (@mulatu18) June 19, 2023
Στρωμένος ο δρόμος για τον μελλοντικό πρωθυπουργό #πατρα #Μητσοτακης pic.twitter.com/dvXMmm8E7c
— Προβοκάστορας (@provokastoras) June 19, 2023
Some were sure that after the Patras branch, Mitsotakis would move up on a hilol to turn water into wine.
Στην Πάτρα ριξανε βάγια από όπου θα περασει ο Μητσοτάκης
Στη συνέχεια ο προφήτης θα κατευθυνθεί προς Ψηλαλώνια όπου θα κάνει το κρασί τους νερό . pic.twitter.com/iYjo36I0J2— Ygritte Snow (@AthenaDimiDimi) June 19, 2023
According to local media that revealed the modern Messiah’s welcome pelop.gr, Patras was the first stop of today’s Mitsotakis’ pre-elections tour.
Speaking to the crowd, he said among others that he wants “Patras to be the protagonist of development in the next 4 years.” He added “the citizens told us run faster to make the big changes that our country needs.”
