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TEF: from an exhibition fair to a political drawing roomtranslated

September 8, 2026 · 1 min read

Article of the matriarch. Anthimos of Alexandroupolis in the KARFITSA Newspaper

The people of Northern Hellas remember that for decades, every cultivable and bred species that exceeded the usual expectations, "aspired" to be commendably exhibited "at the Exhibition, in Thessaloniki"! Evolutionarily followed by the "exhibition" of machines and then every technological achievement. Today it has come to be the place where the applicable political ideas for a better tomorrow of our country are hammered out, within the supranational organizations it belongs to.

Only a completely indifferent citizen discredits the speeches of the political leaders, which are delivered with a lot of care, most of them properly planned. If, of course, the citizen wants to understand the pulse of politics and to synchronize a joint march towards the future. If it wants to not present arrhythmias, the pulse of society and politics and their pace should not slow down.

I listen with confidence to the Prime Minister who carefully every year analyzes the surrounding situation and the possibilities it provides us for economic, development, business, technological and social progress. These, within the geopolitical...

Source: Ιερά Μητρόπολις Αλεξανδρουπόλεως · Read the full story →

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Sarah Collins

I always remembered my uncle in Kavala saving the best of his olive harvest every year just to send it down to the Thessaloniki fair for a ribbon. It’s interesting how the article traces that same event evolving from farm pride to a full political ideas arena. I’ll be paying closer attention to the Prime Minister’s speech this year instead of just skimming the headlines.

Daniela Ciobanu

I too remember how, once upon a time, a neighbor from our village used to send huge potatoes to the Thessaloniki Fair to get a prize. Metropolitan Anthimos' article clearly states how everything turned into a place of political duel, and he is right. Does the work of the old peasant matter now, or is it all just talk?

Alexander Wright

My uncle did the same thing with his prize tomatoes from our garden in Serres—packed them carefully in the truck every September for the fair. Nice to hear it wasn't just our corner of northern Greece. Do you think the political speeches have really taken over, or is there still some of that old farm-and-machine spirit left in the exhibits?

Teodora Florea

Yes, Daniela, I also remember the story of your neighbor's huge potatoes - in our village there was talk of an uncle who carried 30 kilos of pumpkins and returned with a red ribbon. Metropolitan Anthimos is right that there are now more dueling speeches left, but I also wonder if the work of the old peasant has really been lost altogether or just moved behind the cameras. What do you think, is it still worth sending something to the fair or is it just a show?