Costas Simitis, the former Greek prime minister and architect of the country’s modernisation, passed away on Sunday at the age of 88.
Known as the “moderniser” of Greek politics, Simitis had not been dealing with any particular health issues prior to his death.
The Greek government declared four days of mourning in his honour. Simitis, a founding member of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), left an indelible mark on the nation’s political landscape. He succeeded PASOK founder Andreas Papandreou as party leader and served as Greece’s prime minister from 1996 to 2004.
In a heartfelt statement, current Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his sadness at Simitis’s passing and praised him as a “worthy and noble political opponent” who played a pivotal role in Greece’s national milestones, including the country’s accession to the eurozone, the introduction of the euro, and Cyprus’s integration into Europe.
Mitsotakis highlighted Simitis’s significant impact on the nation’s development over the last few decades, noting his vision for modernising Greece’s economy and society through privatization and fiscal stability—a vision that culminated in Greece’s adoption of the euro in 2001.
Simitis famously believed that “modernisation has no expiry date. It is an ongoing process, rooted in the values of democracy, justice, and the continuous expansion of individual potential.”
Born in Piraeus, Simitis studied law and economics in Germany and England, where he met his wife, Daphne Simitis, with whom he had two daughters, Fiona and Marilena.
In his tribute, Mitsotakis extended condolences to Simitis’s family and concluded by emphasizing that Simitis’s legacy “still resonates through the challenges facing our country today,” ensuring that he will always hold a special place in both the history and memory of Greece.
AFP
