Costas Simitis, a former prime minister of Greece who oversaw his country's entry into the euro single currency and its complicated preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games, passed away on Sunday at the age of 88 in Corinth, Greece. Grigoris Karpouzis, the director of the hospital where he was treated, announced the news but did not disclose the cause of death. Following his passing, the Greek government declared four days of national mourning, and he is set to receive a state funeral.
Simitis emerged as a pragmatic politician, gaining favor with voters through his more capitalistic and pro-American approach compared to some of his predecessors. His two consecutive terms as prime minister resulted in the longest continuous tenure seen in modern Greece, though he did not outlast Andreas Papandreou's total time in office across three interrupted terms.
The hosting of the Olympic Games in 2004, which took place shortly after Simitis left office, heralded a new wave of self-confidence and national pride amongst Greeks, marking a homecoming for the event originally held in 1896. Simitis's government was also instrumental in ushering Greece into the eurozone in 2001, a move that signified optimism about the nation's economic future.
However, both the Olympics and euro adoption later contributed to a severe debt crisis that raised serious questions about Greece's membership in the European Union, culminating in a much larger eurozone crisis. As Greeks reflect on Simitis’s legacy, they acknowledge both the achievements and the repercussions of his time in office.
