Greek Reformist Ex-PM Costas Simitis Dies at 88

In response, the Greek government declared a four-day national period of mourning.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in a heartfelt tribute, expressed deep sorrow at Simitis's death, recognizing him as "a worthy and noble political opponent who steered Greece through transformative national milestones, including the country’s accession to the Eurozone and the introduction of the Euro, as well as Cyprus’s integration into Europe."

Mitsotakis further praised Simitis for his lasting influence on Greece’s development, noting that the ex-PM’s legacy continues to shape the nation’s challenges and aspirations. "Costas Simitis's contributions remain relevant, and his place in history and memory is secure," Mitsotakis concluded, offering condolences to Simitis’s family, including his wife Daphne and daughters.

Born in Greece and educated in Germany, Simitis became a resistance fighter during Greece’s 1967-1974 military dictatorship, fleeing the country in 1969 to evade arrest. Returning to Greece after the junta’s fall, he was a key figure in the founding of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) in 1974, led by socialist leader Andreas Papandreou. Simitis’s reputation as a pragmatic economist and reformist led him to clash with Papandreou’s more populist policies, particularly during his tenure as economy minister.

In 1996, following Papandreou’s deathbed decision, Simitis was selected as PASOK's new leader and subsequently became prime minister. His administration faced significant challenges, notably rising tensions with Turkey. In 1996, Greece and Turkey came to the brink of war over a disputed islet in the Aegean Sea, but a U.S. intervention de-escalated the situation. A few years later, a diplomatic scandal involving Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan led to the resignation of three Simitis ministers.

However, Simitis capitalized on a moment of reconciliation when both Greece and Turkey were struck by devastating earthquakes in 1999, leading to the now-famous "quake diplomacy," which paved the way for improved bilateral relations.

Simitis narrowly won re-election in 2000, despite controversies over alleged electoral manipulation, particularly the naturalization of thousands of ethnic Greeks from the former Soviet Union. His tenure, however, was defined by significant economic strides: Greece’s adoption of the euro in 2001 and the successful leadership of the European Union presidency in 2003, which included the historic enlargement that saw Cyprus join the EU.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides paid tribute, stating that Simitis “led Cyprus to its greatest achievement since 1960: the decision to join the European Union, secured in Copenhagen in 2002.” Christodoulides extended his condolences to both Greece and Simitis’s family.

Despite preparing for the Athens Olympics, Simitis’s later years were marred by the failure to complete major infrastructure projects, leading to a less-than-ideal Games under the conservative government of New Democracy. Simitis resigned as PASOK leader in 2004 after electoral defeat seemed inevitable.

In the years following his departure from office, Simitis’s legacy faced scrutiny due to investigations into a stock market bubble and corruption scandals, which resulted in the imprisonment of two former ministers. The 2010 debt crisis also led to questions about whether Greece’s entry into the Eurozone had been based on manipulated financial data.

In his 2012 book defending his administration, Simitis argued that Greece had met Eurozone criteria through a "titanic" effort, citing improvements in fiscal performance during his time as prime minister.

Nikos Androulakis, leader of PASOK-KINAL, hailed Simitis as one of the most influential figures in post-junta Greece. “He left behind a remarkable political legacy, and his role in making Greece a strong presence in Europe is undeniable,” Androulakis said.

Simitis's death marks the end of a transformative era in Greek politics, with his political and economic reforms continuing to shape the country’s path forward.