Mitsotakis: I bid farewell to Simitis with sadness and respect,he put the effort to modernise the country

Personality that leaves its own imprint on the country’s development over the past decades, Kostas Simitis was described by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, saying that his legacy of modernisation “still runs through today, as a common claim, the demands of the homeland”.

In detail, Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ statement on the loss of Kostas Simitis:

Christian statement.Costas Simitis was a consistent fighter against the dictatorship and, later, a founding member, leader, and president of PASOK. A competent academic teacher and a moderate parliamentary man. Above all, however, a catalyst of public life, who boldly placed the great effort of modernizing the country at its centre.

It is with sadness and respect that I bid farewell to Costas Simitis. A worthy and noble political opponent. But also the Prime Minister who accompanied Greece on its great national steps: the accession to the Eurozone and the Euro and the entry of Cyprus into Europe. A personality who, undoubtedly, leaves his own imprint on the development of the country, throughout the last decades.

Costas Simitis was a consistent fighter against the dictatorship and, later, a founding member, leader, and president of PASOK. A competent academic teacher and a moderate parliamentary man. Above all, however, a catalyst of public life, who boldly placed the great effort of modernizing the country at its centre.

“Modernization has no expiration date,” he believed. “It is an ongoing process, based on the values of democracy, justice, and the constant expansion of the possibilities of the individual. It is a term with content and political value. A tool for action to change society as long as there is a past that determines the present and prevents adaptation to the future.”

Regardless of political differences, I think that this legacy of his still runs through the demands of the homeland today, as a common claim. Something that marks Kostas Simitis’ share of the contribution to it. Allowing him, from now on, to maintain a special place in memory and history. My most sincere condolences to his wife Daphne, his daughters, and his family.

Kostas Simitis: The former Prime Minister has died at the age of 88

Former Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis passed away in the early hours of Sunday at the age of 88.

According to Grigoris Karpouzis, director of the Corinth Hospital, Mr. Simitis was transferred from his summer residence in Agioi Theodoroi to the hospital in the early morning without a pulse. His death was confirmed upon arrival at the hospital. Mr. Karpouzis verified the news during a statement to SKAI television.

Kostas Simitis was one of the most prominent political figures in modern Greece, leaving behind a rich political legacy.

Who Was Kostas Simitis?

Kostas Simitis, a university professor and politician, was among the most distinguished personalities of the contemporary Greek political scene.

He served as President of PASOK (June 30, 1996 – February 8, 2004) and Prime Minister of Greece (January 18, 1996 – March 10, 2004), shaping an era marked by significant reforms.

After the fall of the military junta in 1974, Simitis became a founding member of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). Throughout his political career, he held various ministerial positions, playing a key role in the party’s rise to power.

His political career peaked on January 18, 1996, when he succeeded Andreas Papandreou as Prime Minister following a parliamentary vote by PASOK’s parliamentary group. Representing the modernization wing of the party, Simitis focused on economic reform and the European integration of Greece. Shortly thereafter, on June 30, 1996, he was elected President of PASOK at the party’s 4th Congress.

During his tenure, Simitis implemented measures for economic stability and pursued a moderate foreign policy.

Two of his most notable achievements were the gradual privatization of the public sector and Greece’s entry into the Economic and Monetary Union in 2001.

Second Term and Legacy

His second term was characterized by austerity measures aimed at reducing inflation and national debt, as well as efforts to resolve disputes with Turkey and the Cyprus issue.

As PASOK leader, Simitis prioritized European unification and Greece’s adaptation to the challenges of globalization. His policies reflected a shift towards aligning the country with European Union standards.

Despite the opposition his policies faced, Kostas Simitis is acknowledged for his significant contribution to shaping modern Greece.

Source: pagenews.gr