He listened to many but decided alone
Karamanlis once said that his decision to go into politics had dried up his soul. How do you interpret that comment? Many accuse him of being the sort of character that has no friends or special relations with his colleagues. Much has been said and written about his character, but most of it is wrong, especially about the kind of language he used. I can assure you after 24 years of being at his side every day, I never heard him utter an oath or an indecent word. Never. He always had a very strong sense of duty and dignity, both of his office and of his own person. And that determined his behavior toward everyone – his family, his colleagues and his friends. He had many chosen and faithful friends. He sought out and enjoyed their company. But none of those friends or colleagues dared adopt a familiar tone with him. Not because he himself forbade it but, quite simply, because it never crossed anyone’s mind to do so. That doesn’t mean that he didn’t have feelings. In reality he was a surprisingly sensitive person. But he tried to hide it because he was afraid that his sensitivity might be interpreted as weakness. You were one of his chief advisers, and not only on matters of foreign policy. When he adopted proposals by one of his colleagues, did he acknowledge it or did he present them later as his own ideas, as some people who know him have joked? Anyone who says that certainly didn’t know him well. On the contrary, he listened a lot before making a decision. He wanted to hear all the opinions and all the arguments, but the decision was his and he made it alone.
