ATHENS, Greece — On Thursday, mourners gathered outside the central cathedral in Athens for the state funeral of former Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who played a pivotal role in Greece’s integration into the eurozone. Simitis passed away on Sunday at the age of 88.
Politicians from various parties honored the late premier, highlighting his significant contributions towards Greece’s entry into the eurozone and his instrumental role in Cyprus joining the European Union in 2004. Despite the challenges surrounding Greece’s financial readiness for the euro, many praised Simitis for his vision. “He set the bar high and boldly for a strong, equal Greece in Europe,” stated Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou during her eulogy, referring to the eurozone accession and Cyprus’s EU membership as remarkable achievements.
Current Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reflected on their shared history, recognizing Simitis as both a defender of democracy and a respected political opponent. Mitsotakis, whose conservative New Democracy party has long been in opposition to Simitis’ socialist PASOK party, acknowledged their collaboration on critical issues such as Greece’s entry into the euro and Cyprus’s EU membership.
Simitis’ funeral followed a four-day official mourning period and was conducted with honors typically bestowed upon a sitting prime minister. Following a solemn service at the Metropolitan Cathedral, a procession commenced, and the crowd on foot accompanied the hearse to Athens’ First Cemetery, renowned as the final resting place for many distinguished Greeks, including influential politicians, musicians, and artists.
In line with his family’s wishes, Simitis did not lie in state, but a large number of citizens gathered outside the cathedral to pay their respects. Streets in central Athens were closed to traffic during the funeral and procession. A member of the public, Apostolos Xilogiannis, commented on Simitis’ impact as a modernizer of Greece, noting that he focused on results rather than rhetoric.
A dedicated pro-European leader, Simitis served as prime minister during two consecutive four-year terms from January 1996 until March 2004, marking a significant period in Greek politics. Rising from the ranks of the modernizing faction within PASOK, he succeeded Andreas Papandreou after often being at odds with him. Simitis viewed Greece’s entrance into the eurozone in January 2001 as the pinnacle of his leadership.
Under his administration, Greece hosted the 2004 Olympic Games, benefiting from extensive infrastructure projects that included the development of a new airport and the addition of two subway lines. He was also crucial in facilitating Cyprus’s entry into the EU, overcoming hesitations from other European nations about admitting a divided country into the union.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides attended the funeral and lauded the late prime minister as an “outstanding leader” with a place of honor in both Greek and Cypriot history. Simitis, recognized for his pragmatic approach, often found himself in disagreement with the dynamic and charismatic Papandreou. His initial tenure in government began amid economic challenges, and he was appointed finance minister to enact austerity measures as the economy struggled.
Though some progress was achieved under his financial policies, Simitis resigned from his position after Papandreou proposed a more generous wage strategy aimed at an upcoming election, which conflicted with austerity goals. After the socialists returned to power in 1993, Simitis eventually ascended to the premiership in January 1996 following Papandreou’s resignation, serving until 2004.
Born on June 23, 1936, Simitis came from a politically engaged family; his father, Georgios, was involved in the leftist resistance during the German occupation of Greece, while his mother, Fani, was active in feminist movements. Simitis pursued his education in law at the University of Marburg in Germany during the 1950s and later studied economics and politics at the London School of Economics. He also had a noteworthy academic career as a law professor at the University of Athens. His elder brother, Spiros, was a distinguished legal scholar in Germany and passed away in 2023.
