Galery

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It is now 22 years since the relationship between winner of Sunday's election Alexis Tsipras and his partner Peristera Baziana, or Betty, as her friends call her, began. Naturally, she accompanied Tsipras to SYRIZA headquarters after the great victory on 25 January.

The leader of the radical left SYRIZA and his humble girlfriend met when Alexis Tsipras was a teenager, actively involved in student blockades. His classmate from the secondary school in the Athens district of Ambelokipi was by his side even at that time.

In addition to the mutual attraction, their common interest in politics and public affairs brought them closer too. Both were initially members of the youth organisation of the Greek Communist Party (KKE), and later of SYRIZA, and they have always shared common values and philosophy of politics and society.

Shortly after the school blockades in 1990-1991 they parted for a while to study at university. She went to the University of Patras, Department of Electrical Engineering and Informatics and he to the National Technical University in Athens, Metsovio. The distance, however, did not hinder their relationship.

Having graduated, Betty left Tsipras to express himself on the political scene and she stayed out of the limelight to support him.

Their absolute mutual support and trust is in no way expressed in a wedding, sponsors, vows and everything else that church tradition requires. They are not even married, they have only signed a cohabitation agreement, thus formalising their relationship.

Their first child, Pavlos was born in May 2010, two years after the sharp rise in the support for SYRIZA and the popularity of Alexis Tsipras. In June 2012, their happiness was even more complete due to the birth of their second son, whom they preferred not to baptize in a church. They organised a civil ritual to give the child a name, calling him Orfeas Ernesto.

Alexis Tsipras and his partner are one of the most discreet couples on the Greek political scene. Their few public appearances and their casual style provoke a lot of people to talk about an alternative couple.

Maybe the fact that they are together since their school years has helped them maintain somewhat their youthful carefree state of mind, zeal and fervour. It is certain that they have managed to keep their love alive.