“A fighter against the dictatorship and a worthy servant of democracy,” the prime minister described, Kyriakos Mitsotakisthe former prime minister Kostas Simitisdelivering his eulogy.

Mr. Mitsotakis spoke of a “noble opponent”, whose institutional position requires him to honor him as he deserves, adding: “Our factions succeeded and met in two crucial choices. The accession of Greece to the euro and the entry of Cyprus into the EU”.

The prime minister said that Kostas Simitis now belongs to history which will weigh his eventful path and three relics of the deceased are already visible:

The first is “his unwavering belief in the European orientation and his constant effort to bring Greece closer to the most developed states of Europe”.

The second was his way of governing, with the protagonist being the notebook that methodically recorded the priorities that had to be implemented from declarations, with planning, painstaking work and control, with the aim of the measurable result, according to Mr. Mitsotakis.

The third, according to the prime minister, is that Costas Simitis, apart from his involvement in politics, always found time to read, listen to music, attend theater, and loved the role of a simple husband and father.

Also, Mr. Mitsotakis noted that in the future many analysts will deal with the work of the deceased “with his right and wrongs, as well as with what he sought and never saw come true”, and added that it is about the eternal fate and the price of whoever decides to act in the public sphere.

The prime minister focused on some “elixirs of the course” of Costas Simitis, such as his saying about the government, which exists not to perpetuate its power but to shape a better society with key words, the plan and the moment, seeking the consents but also going against the current, so that the cost that will be paid is less than the benefit that will arise. He also said that in the effort to implement the above, the ability of our country to get rid of burdens and pathogens of the past is being tested.

Referring to the successes of Kostas Simitis, he emphasized his democratic consistency, the serious infrastructures that the country acquired during his terms, and the two decisive steps that marked the European perspective of both Greece and Cyprus.

“Let’s keep the best of his path and the fact that he was never tempted to mutate, to become liked by joining a foreign model of behavior, while maintaining the discreet simplicity to invest this life and after retirement from the public spotlight”, he pointed out

Also, Mr. Mitsotakis called Costas Simitis “an exception in the noisy world of slogans” and underlined that this is a valuable award, which he won with his attitude without ever claiming or advertising it himself.

Finally, he emphasized that Kostas Simitis chose an epilogue with meaning so that it is also worthy of honor and memory.