The Greek capital will come to a solemn halt on Thursday as Athens pays tribute to former Prime Minister Costas Simitis, whose funeral service and burial will be held in the city centre.
Greek police announced that temporary traffic restrictions began at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday and will remain in effect until 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.
The areas impacted include major thoroughfares such as Syntagma Square, Vassilissis Sofias, Syngrou, Ilioupoleos, Ardittou, Vassileos Konstantinou, and Kallirois. Residents and visitors are advised to plan their movements accordingly.
The funeral service will be held at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral at noon on Thursday, followed by burial at the First Cemetery of Athens. President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou will deliver one of the eulogies, alongside Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, PASOK-KINAL leader Nikos Androulakis, former minister and professor Tassos Giannitsis, and professors Yiannis Voulgaris and Constantinos Tsoukalas.
Costas Simitis, a former PASOK leader and key architect of Greece’s integration into the European Monetary Union, passed away early Sunday at the age of 88. His death marks the end of a distinguished political career that spanned decades.
Tributes to a Statesman
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was among those who expressed condolences. In a message to PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis, Abbas praised Simitis for his "economic and political achievements" and extended sympathies to Simitis' family, PASOK members, and the Greek people.
Born on June 23, 1936, in Piraeus, Simitis studied law and economics in Germany and England, where he met his wife, Daphne Arkadiou. The couple had two daughters, Fiona and Marilena.
Simitis was a staunch opponent of the Greek military dictatorship (1967–1974) and fled to Germany during the junta. In exile, he joined the Panhellenic Liberation Movement (PAK), a precursor to PASOK, the party he helped establish in 1974.
He succeeded Andreas Papandreou as prime minister in 1996 and led PASOK through significant milestones, including Greece’s entry into the Eurozone and the country’s preparation for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Simitis also played a pivotal role in Cyprus’s accession to the European Union.
Simitis stepped down as PASOK leader in 2004, emphasising a commitment to orderly political transitions. Even after his tenure as prime minister, he remained active in public discourse through speeches and writings.
In a statement from his official page, Simitis is remembered for his dedication to modernising Greece, stabilising its economy, and enhancing the nation’s international standing.
As Athens prepares for this farewell, the nation reflects on the legacy of a leader who left an indelible mark on Greek political history.