Konstantinos Simitis, the former Greek Prime Minister who guided Greece into the eurozone and oversaw a transformative era in the country’s modern history passed away on Sunday at the age of 88.
Konstantinos Simitis, a pivotal figure in Greece’s political landscape, died at his summer home in the Peloponnese. He was rushed to a hospital in Corinth early Sunday morning, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his condolences, calling Simitis a “worthy and noble political opponent” and recognising his contributions to Greece’s national milestones.
Born on June 23rd, 1936, to politically active parents, Costas Simitis inherited a strong sense of civic duty and intellectual curiosity.
His father, Georgios, was a member of the left-leaning resistance government during the German occupation, while his mother, Fani, was an active feminist. After studying law at the University of Marburg in Germany and pursuing economics and politics at the London School of Economics, Simitis returned to Greece, where he became a law professor at the University of Athens. These academic foundations shaped his pragmatic and disciplined approach to governance.
Simitis co-founded the Socialist PASOK party in 1974, aligning himself with Andreas Papandreou, the party’s charismatic and populist leader. Their relationship was complex, marked by both collaboration and contention, reflecting the ideological tensions within PASOK. Papandreou’s fiery populism often contrasted with Simitis’ pragmatic and pro-European stance.
Simitis first gained prominence during his tenure as finance minister in the 1980s. Tasked with addressing Greece’s deteriorating economy, he implemented a stringent austerity program that helped stabilise finances and reduce inflation. However, his reforms were not universally welcomed, and he resigned in 1987 when Papandreou shifted to a more generous economic policy ahead of elections.
When Papandreou’s health declined in the 1990s, Simitis emerged as his successor, becoming Prime Minister in 1996 after a tight parliamentary vote. His leadership marked a departure from populist rhetoric, focusing instead on economic modernization and Greece’s integration into European institutions. His crowning achievement was Greece’s entry into the eurozone in January 2001, a milestone he viewed as a testament to the country’s progress and stability. This move placed Greece firmly within Europe’s economic core, though it also drew criticism over the country’s debt management practices.
Under Simitis’ administration, Greece also secured the 2004 Olympic Games for Athens, a moment of national pride that spurred extensive infrastructure development. Projects such as a new international airport and two subway lines transformed Athens and showcased Greece’s capabilities on the global stage. Additionally, Simitis played a key role in facilitating Cyprus’ entry into the European Union in 2004.
Despite these accomplishments, Simitis faced significant opposition, particularly from within his own party. In 2001, attempts to reform Greece’s pension system met with fierce resistance, weakening his political standing. Acknowledging the challenges, he chose not to contest the 2004 elections, stepping down as PASOK leader five months before the Olympics.
Simitis’ later years in politics were marked by strained relations with his party. His successor, George Papandreou, expelled him from the PASOK parliamentary group in 2008 following policy disagreements. Before leaving parliament in 2009, Simitis issued a stark warning about Greece’s financial mismanagement, predicting the country’s eventual reliance on the International Monetary Fund. His warning proved prescient when Greece’s economic crisis unfolded in 2010, leading to harsh austerity measures imposed by the IMF and the European Union.
Throughout his career, Simitis remained a committed pro-European, advocating for Greece’s active participation in the EU and its institutions. His legacy is one of modernisation and integration, though not without controversy. Critics on both the right and left questioned aspects of his policies, particularly the debt practices surrounding Greece’s eurozone entry.
Costas Simitis is survived by his wife of 60 years, Daphne, and their two daughters. He was predeceased by his elder brother, Spiros, a renowned legal scholar in Germany.
Main Image: Autorstwa Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung – Flickr: Konstantinos Simitis, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18352386
