Procedures Initiated Against Mayor Who Addressed Paul de Grau as ‘Prince’

A storm of reactions has been sparked by the mayor of Eastern Mani, Petros Andreako, who referred to Paul de Grau as ‘prince,’ leading to the initiation of the prescribed procedures. Speaking on Real FM on Tuesday (18.03.25) and commenting on the matter, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Vasilis Spanakis stated that “the secretary of the Decentralized Administration responsible has already initiated the process.” According to Article 4 of the Greek Constitution, neither titles of nobility nor distinctions are granted or recognized for Greek citizens. Therefore, all self-governing bodies and citizens are obligated to apply the Constitution and laws. The relevant legislation exists, and the competent decentralized administration of Western Greece, Peloponnese, and Ionian Islands will proceed with the appropriate procedures. When asked if this includes penalties, the deputy minister replied, “Law 3852 and a code of ethics exist, and the responsible decentralized authority has already taken the necessary actions as per the prescribed procedures.” Emphasizing that Greece is focused on its future, Spanakis added, “We live in 2025, striving for the Greece of our children’s future. Applying the Constitution and laws is crucial; I do not believe such incidents help local political life. There is a specific code of ethics, laws, and the Constitution itself, which clearly addresses this issue in Article 4 paragraph 7.” It is recalled that Paul de Grau was present at the celebrations marking the start of the 1821 revolution in Areopolis, Mani. During a commemorative event inside the closed gymnasium of Areopolis, Mayor Andreako greeted de Grau saying, “Beloved compatriots, believing that we are all Greeks here, each of us has the right to believe what we want. However, personally, I believe that titles never die. They follow a person throughout their life. Thus, I welcome Prince Paul.” This incident also drew attention when another official used a title referencing royal family members during their speech.