The funeral of Costas Simitis, Greece’s former Prime Minister was notable not only for its solemnity but for a conspicuous absence: none of Greece’s living former prime ministers were in attendance.
This stands in stark contrast to traditions observed in countries like the United States, where the funerals of former leaders are often moments of bipartisan unity and respect. For instance, at Jimmy Carter’s funeral, all living former U.S. presidents set aside political differences to pay their respects, highlighting the deep reverence for the office and the individual who once held it.
The divergence between these two traditions raises questions about the dynamics of political legacy, respect, and unity in Greece’s political landscape.
Greece’s current Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was present at the funeral service for Simitis and delivered an eulogy where he praised the former leader despite party politics. Simitis was a founding member of socialist PASOK, the biggest rival party of Mitsotakis’ New Democracy.
He paid tribute to “a fighter for democracy and a noble political opponent,” who, as he said, refused to compromise his principles and adopt populist slogans.
The prime minister highlighted three key aspects of Simitis’s legacy: his belief in European integration, his methodical governance style and his ability to balance his demanding political responsibilities with a passion for reading, art and theater.
Representatives of most political parties were also present in the funeral service but no former prime minister showed up.
Living Greek PMs were noted for their absence at Simitis funeral
Konstantinos Karamanlis (born September 14, 1956), who served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2004 to 2009. He is the nephew of the elder Konstantinos Karamanlis, who was a key figure in Greek politics and served as both Prime Minister and President of Greece in earlier decades. The younger Karamanlis remains an influential figure within the New Democracy party.
George Papandreou (born June 16, 1952) who served as the Prime Minister of Greece from 2009 to 2011 during the early stages of the Greek debt crisis. Papandreou is a member of the prominent Papandreou political family and served as the leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). His tenure was marked by significant economic challenges, and he is known for initiating austerity measures and seeking international bailouts to stabilize the Greek economy.
Papandreou issued a statement saying he was in China when Simitis was buried.
Loucas Papadimos (born October 11, 1947) served as the Prime Minister of Greece from November 2011 to May 2012 during a critical period of the Greek financial crisis. Papadimos, an economist and former Vice President of the European Central Bank, was appointed as a technocratic leader to help manage Greece’s economic challenges and implement key financial reforms.
Antonis Samaras (born May 23, 1951) served as Prime Minister from 2012 to 2015. he assumed office during one of Greece’s most challenging periods, navigating the country through the depths of the eurozone debt crisis. Samaras implemented strict austerity measures and sought international bailouts to stabilize the Greek economy, actions that were both lauded for preventing Greece’s exit from the eurozone and criticized for their social and economic toll.
Alexis Tsipras (born July 28, 1974) held office from 2015 to 2019 leading the left-wing Syriza party. He came to power promising to end austerity measures imposed by Greece’s creditors. However, after a contentious referendum in 2015 and intense negotiations with the European Union, Tsipras agreed to a third bailout program, implementing reforms that many saw as a reversal of his initial promises.
Tsipras said that his absence from the Simitis funeral was due to health reasons as he contracted the COVID-19 virus.
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