Athens: Greece’s former prime minister and one of the founders of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) party, Costas Simitis, died in Greece on Sunday at the age of 88, Greek media reported.
Simitis headed the Greek government from 1996 to 2004.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has sent condolences on the death of Simitis and praised his professional achievements.
“With sadness and respect, I say goodbye to Costas Simitis. A worthy and noble political opponent. The prime minister, who accompanied Greece in its great national steps: joining the eurozone and the euro [monetary system], as well as Cyprus’ accession to Europe. A personality who has undoubtedly left his mark on the development of the country over the past decades,” Mitsotakis said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Greek Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios said that a four-day mourning would be announced due to Simitis’ death.
Simitis was born in the Greek city of Piraeus on June 23, 1936. His eight-year term in the capacity of prime minister was associated with a period of Greece’s modernization, accession into the eurozone, and major infrastructure projects for the preparation of the 2004 Olympic Games. One of the most significant achievements of Simitis’ term is the inclusion of Greece in the European single monetary system.
UNI
