In a rare interview with the newspaper Espresso and journalist Vivian Benekou, renowned breast surgeon and oncologist Natasa Pazaiti spoke candidly about her professional work—and her personal life. She described the family she has built with former Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis as her personal ‘sanctuary’.
A sanctuary in family life
Pazaiti revealed that returning home to their residence in Rafina brings her deep comfort. ‘My family is my refuge,’ she said. ‘When I’m tired, I count down the hours until I get home—to be held by my husband, to laugh at his jokes, to enjoy the teasing and laughter of our children, Aliki and Alexandros, and to hear the purring and playful antics of our cat.’
Public life and personal resilience
She acknowledged that, as the spouse of a high-profile political figure, she has occasionally felt unfairly treated amid Greece’s polarized political climate. ‘It was never possible for me to stay away from the public eye,’ she explained. ‘Yes, at times I’ve felt wronged within this political polarization—but it doesn’t upset me. I understand the reasons, and I’ve accepted them. Still, I won’t dwell on it. What matters most is the genuine, profound love I receive—not only as Costas Karamanlis’s wife, but also as a physician. My patients, and even strangers I meet on the street, feel warmth and familiarity with me. To them, I’m simply Natasa.’