My Kind of Greek (Tie-less) PM!

Adam Taylor

When Greek voters elected the leftist party Syriza last month, many people expected an anti-establishment, even radical, change in policy from the new coalition government. Alexis Tsipras, Syriza’s young and charismatic leader, had vowed to transform not just Greece but the entire of Europe. Things were going to be different, very different.

What Greek voters might not have expected was the first big reaction to Tsipras’s maverick streak would be all about his sartorial choices. As soon as the 40-year-old was sworn in as prime minister, people began asking one question over and over again.

Where is his tie?

Tsipras had broken tradition when he appeared with an open collar at the grand presidential residence to sign in as prime minister. Over the coming weeks, he would continue to forgo the tie when meeting with other foreign leaders, including French President Francois Hollande, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.