The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s pet dog Peanut brought a news conference being held by the leaders of Greece and Slovakia to a brief halt on Thursday.
In the midst of expressing his support for the country’s Balkan neighbours’ efforts to join the European Union, Mitsotakis froze momentarily as Peanut was heard barking loudly at the prime minister’s official residence, Maximos Mansion, just a few yards away.
“That is the dog we recently adopted who is often quite lively,” said Mitsotakis in explanation to Prime Minister of Slovakia, Eduard Heger, who laughed.
“This is the first time he has intervened during a press conference. Usually, he just greets guests at the door and is more polite,” Mitsotakis said.
Mitsotakis adopted Peanut after visiting animal welfare volunteers on World Stray Animals Day in April, announcing the news on his Instagram account.
“Peanut came into our lives! He chose us when two weeks ago we visited the Ilioupoli Animal Welfare Association on the occasion of the International Day of Stray Animals. Open your arms and save a stray!” wrote Mitsotakis.
“The truth is that I did not chose him, he chose us,” he added.
Mitsotakis’ government has led efforts to crack down on animal cruelty.
Last year Parliament voted to make serious animal abuse punishable by up to 10 years in prison and presented the bill saying that the “framework for pets shows our humanity.”
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