British TV Lauds Greek Premier: “Can We Have Mitsotakis Instead of Johnson?”

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis received praise from British TV presenters after he appeared on the popular TV show Good Morning Britain on Tuesday.

Mitsotakis, who was interviewed by Susanna Reid and Ed Balls on the ITV show, discussed his upcoming meeting with his British counterpart Boris Johnson.

The presenters highlighted the fact that the British Prime Minister has boycotted Good Morning Britain for 1,595 days, while Mitsotakis was more than happy to appear on the show and discuss a variety of topics, including illegal immigration to Greece and the return of the Parthenon Marbles.

After the interview, the pair spoke with fellow ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who was full of praise for the Greek leader while also hitting out at Johnson. According to the Daily Express, Kelly began by saying: “I just want to share with you as well we have had an outpouring of love for the Greek Prime Minister…He’s lovely, I like him,” Kelly commented.

“Let’s swap Johnson for the Greek Premier”

Reid revealed that the program had received a number of messages in praise of Mitsotakis: “We’ve had a lot of people in touch,” she said, adding “Can we have the Greek Prime Minister instead of our Prime Minister?”

“Yes let’s swap,” Kelly quipped as Reid read out tweets from viewers. “Isabel, please can we have the Greek Prime Minister instead of our Prime Minister? What an intelligent, thoughtful, sensitive person,” she said.

“Chris, the Greek Prime Minister had my attention — he’s speaking clearly and precisely.

“You were quite impressed as well, frankly,” Reid quipped. “Apparently he’s got everyone’s vote.”

“Wasn’t it lovely to hear someone make sense and actually being there, turning up,” Kelly said.

Mitsotakis rules out full lockdown

During the interview, Mitsotakis ruled out a full lockdown that would only affect the unvaccinated.

“We have a strict policy but we will not go as far as Austria,” he told the Good Morning Britain show, referring to measures introduced by Vienna recently that seriously curb the movements of people who have not taken the Covid-19 vaccine.

Greece, said the prime minister, “relies heavily on testing” and has imposed measures banning the unvaccinated from restaurants and other “Covid-free” venues.

“The vaccine passports are working,” he said of the measures, which allow people with certificates of immunity complete freedom.

Since new restrictions went into place two weeks ago demanding negative rapid and PCR tests from all unvaccinated people seeking service at places like cafes, bars and retail stores, Greece has “seen a significant uptake on vaccinations,” Mitsotakis said. The combination of different measures appears to be an “effective strategy,” he added.

The Greek prime minister conceded, however, that the national health system “is under a lot of pressure” and said that the government is “trying to help our doctors and nurses address this spike.

“But nine out of 10 patients in intensive care beds right now are unvaccinated, and it’s a real pity,” he added.

On a more optimistic note, Mitsotakis appeared confident for a “Covid-free summer” next year, and urged Britons to “book their holidays as soon as possible.”