ATHENS (Reuters) – Former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the architect behind Greece’s adoption of the Euro in 2001, passed away on Sunday at the age of 88 at his summer residence in the Peloponnese region.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his condolences, acknowledging Simitis as both a respected political adversary and a leader who guided Greece through significant milestones. “With sadness and respect, I bid farewell to Costas Simitis, a worthy and noble political opponent, but also the Prime Minister who accompanied Greece in its great national steps,” Mitsotakis stated in a released message.
A period of national mourning has been declared by the government in honor of Simitis, with his funeral expenses to be covered by the state, as reported by the Greek state news agency.
A prominent figure in Greek politics, Simitis, a former law professor, took over the leadership of the PASOK socialist party in 1996 and served as Prime Minister until 2004. Known for his reformist policies, Simitis steered the country towards fiscal stability during his tenure, successfully reducing the budget deficit and public debt to meet the criteria for admission into the Eurozone.
Simitis had been enjoying his time at his summer retreat near Athens in the Peloponnese before being rushed to the hospital early in the morning after losing consciousness. The director of the Corinth hospital confirmed his passing to local media.
Following the outbreak of the Greek debt crisis in 2009, Simitis published a critical assessment of the crisis management by both Greek politicians and the European Union in his book “Derailment” in 2012. He specifically highlighted the European Commission’s alleged negligence towards overspending by his conservative successor, shedding light on the complexities of the financial turmoil that gripped the nation.
Costas Simitis’ legacy as a pivotal figure in Greece’s modern history, particularly his contributions to the country’s integration into the Eurozone and his reflections on the handling of the economic crisis, will be remembered and honored across the nation and beyond.
(Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Writing by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Mark Potter and Tomasz Janowski)
