By Despina Vlepakis

Kostas Simitis connected the years of his political journey with moments that defined the modern history of the country and played an important role for subsequent developments.

We list some of them:

June 30, 1996

The speech of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis at the 4th Congress of PASOK, a few minutes after his election to the position of President. Kostas Simitis puts forward the unity. As PASOK notes, he emerged victorious. When he mentions the founder Andreas Papandreou, all the delegates stand up and the applause shakes the hall.

The conference proved that the post-Andreas era is not the post-PASOK era, concludes Kostas Simitis.

December 31, 1996 – Crisis in Imia

The most difficult moment for the Prime Ministership of Costas Simitis was the crisis in Imia. After two days of thrillers about Greek-Turkish relations and after Kostas Simitis’s conversation with the then president of the USA Bill Clinton the Prime Minister on Wednesday 31 December 1996 informs Parliament and thanks the Americans for their contribution, causing a storm of reactions even from a part of PASOK

December 10, 1999: Accession of Cyprus to the EU

During the prime ministership of Kostas Simitis, Cyprus’ accession process to the European Union was planned and completed.

Kostas Simitis visited Cyprus many times, culminating in his visit in April 2003, immediately after the signing of the Act of Accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union, on April 16, which Kostas Simitis had characterized as “a peak moment of the national strategy of Greece”.

It was preceded by the Summit in Helsinki on 10/12/1999 with Costas Simitis contributing decisively to the development. According to the Conclusions of the EU summit in Helsinki, Turkey had to accept the conditions laid down in the decision in order to be able to start accession negotiations.

January 1, 2002 – Kostas Simitis announces the entry of the country into the euro

January 2002: Euro banknotes and coins were put into circulation in Greece at the same time as the other euro area member states. The changeover to the euro was completed on 28 February 2002.

Kostas Simitis announces the entry of the country into the euro.

February 27, 2016 – Simitis: Let us not be ruled by fools

Kostas Simitis, when he retired from active politics, rarely spoke and his speeches always caused a sensation, such as his intervention in 2016. From the podium of the Potamios conference, former Prime Minister Kostas Simitis made a loud intervention in the debate on the restructuring of the wider Center left highlighting: “We also need a strong pole between the Right and the irrational and unbalancing Left.”

The former prime minister explained his proposal by saying: “At this critical moment I have to highlight here what I consider necessary for our society. So that there is rationality and that the adventures of those who govern us do not continue. To be ruled by persons who have knowledge and direction. Let us not be ruled by foolish persons who think that from here in Greece they can change the status of the EU”.

November 3, 2024 – Festive event for the 50th anniversary of the founding of PASOK

Last speech of Kostas Simitis in Zappeion, at the celebratory event for the 50th anniversary of the founding of PASOK.

“Today more than ever the progressive world is asking for answers and above all a way out to be able to hope again. PASOK must play a leading role in these developments by offering the vision and the plan for the reconstruction of the country in a progressive direction. It’s an opportunity. The opportunities are not endless. So here and now we move forward with knowledge, strength and courage. We will succeed,” said the former Prime Minister, among other things.

All the former Presidents of PASOK were present and the fact that the former Prime Minister won the battle of applause was discussed in the wells.