ATHENS – Greece has marked an exceptional May Day on Friday as government joined citizens for the first time in a protest calling for an end to austerity policies and restoring the workers’ rights.

“Yanis, kick their ass!” “Keep it up!,” “We support!,” were some of the chants heard by Finance Minister, Yanis Varoufakis, who appeared smiling and unescorted in the middle of the main demonstration in central Athens.

Men and women of all ages competed to embrace or take a photo with the favorite minister of the Greeks and the most hated in the Eurozone.

“Today is the day of the workers, today is not my day,” said the minister when journalists asked him about the latest news on the progress of negotiations with creditors.

Varoufakis flatly refused to make any political comments but other ministers were more eloquent and sided with the people’s wishes to end austerity policies.