Greece Bids Farewell to Former PM Costas Simitis with State Funeral (Live Feed)

ATHENS, Greece (Gct) — Greece held a authorities ceremonial Thursday for erstwhile Prime Minister Costas Simitis, honoring the designer of the nation's introduction into the eurozone. Simitis, who served arsenic premier curate from 1996 to 2004, died past play astatine property 88.

Mourners gathered extracurricular Athens' Metropolitan Cathedral to wage their respects arsenic Simitis was laid to remainder with the honors befitting a sitting premier minister. Following the cathedral service, a procession carried him to his last resting spot successful Athens' First Cemetery, alongside different salient Greek figures. While Simitis' assemblage did not prevarication successful state, per his family's wishes, the nationalist had the accidental to explicit their condolences extracurricular the cathedral.

Simitis' bequest is profoundly intertwined with Greece's modernization and integration into Europe. His astir important accomplishment was ushering Greece into the eurozone successful 2001. He besides played a cardinal relation successful securing the 2004 Olympic Games for Athens, overseeing extended infrastructure improvement projects, including a caller airdrome and subway lines, successful preparation. Furthermore, Simitis facilitated Cyprus's accession to the European Union successful 2004.

A committed pro-European and co-founder of the PASOK socialist enactment successful 1974, Simitis led a modernizing faction wrong the party. He yet succeeded Andreas Papandreou arsenic premier curate successful 1996. His eight-year tenure marks the longest for a Greek administration.

A four-day play of nationalist mourning was declared pursuing Simitis' death. He passed distant aft being taken to a Corinth infirmary from his vacation home, wherever aesculapian unit were incapable to revive him. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who lauded Simitis arsenic an "outstanding leader," attended the funeral.

Born successful 1936 to politically progressive parents, Simitis studied instrumentality successful Germany and economics and authorities astatine the London School of Economics. He aboriginal taught instrumentality astatine the University of Athens. His elder brother, Spiros, who died successful 2023, was a renowned ineligible student successful Germany.