People · 1916–1996
François Mitterrand
President of France, spent Christmas 1991 in Myloi
President of the French Republic from 1981 to 1995. From 23 to 27 December 1991 he stayed incognito in a village house in Myloi.
Also written: Φρανσουά Μιτεράν, Μιτεράν, Mitterand
Events
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1966
A man from Myloi meets Mitterrand in Paris
In 1966 Dimitrios Kotsonaros from Myloi, then 23, did his military service at a NATO office in Paris because he spoke French. Through friends he met the politician François Mitterrand, and they stayed friends for…
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23 December 1991
President Mitterrand arrives for Christmas
On the evening of 23 December 1991 a French government plane landed at Kalamata at 20:39, and a few hire cars drove through the night to Myloi. François Mitterrand had chosen the simple village house of his friend…
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24 December 1991
Christmas Eve in Epidaurus, Lygourio and Nafplio
On 24 December Mitterrand visited the theatre of Epidaurus and lunched at the taverna Leonidas in Lygourio, where he liked the local rozakia best and posed for a photo with the family. In the afternoon he walked through…
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25 December 1991
The day the Soviet Union ended, seen from Myloi
On Christmas Day the press blocked the road to Mycenae, so Mitterrand stayed in Myloi. That day Mikhail Gorbachev resigned in Moscow, and the French president read a statement over the satellite link set up in a small…
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26 December 1991
Corinth, the theatre of Argos and dinner in Malantreni
On 26 December Mitterrand visited Ancient Corinth and Acrocorinth, then the rock-cut theatre of Argos, which he called a masterpiece and regretted to see so neglected. Back in Myloi he received local officials, and the…
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26 December 1991
The village council at the President's table
During his secret Christmas stay in Myloi, François Mitterrand received the mayor of Argos and the council of the community: president M. Koromichis with councillors N. Kodelas and N. Gkikopoulos.
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27 December 1991
Mitterrand leaves, with a gift for Argos
On 27 December 1991 at 16:29 Mitterrand flew from Kalamata back to Paris. He left his host a signature and 10,000 francs for a good cause, which Kotsonaros gave to the old people's home in Argos.