Professor Costas Simitis, former Prime Minister of Greece, passed away on January 5th, 2025, at 88 years of age.
He was a person of profound influence in my life.
I first met him in 1980 when, as a 2nd-year law student in total confusion about what to do in the Law, I became an intern at his law office, the forerunner of Ballas Pelecanos Law. My partner, George Ballas, was then a young lawyer in the firm.
Simitis influenced my legal, ethical, political and social outlook. He also greatly affected my legal outlook; he was my mentor.
He had studied both law and economics and imbued the strict Germanic scholarly approach with the broader inquisitive Anglo-Saxon social approach. Furthermore, he was a pioneer of the economic analysis of the law. His main legal book, “The Right to the Invention” (1967), included an economic, social and political critique of the then international patent law regime, where he questioned whether patent rights were being applied in a manner conducive to competition and development.
He introduced me to key figures in the international socialist movement, such as Ralf Miliband, Tony Benn, and Enrico Berlinguer. The photograph here is from 1981, showing Miliband, Simitis, and me—a young man between two intellectual giants!
His influence went further: he made me a European. Unlike Andreas Papandreou, who was sceptical of the EEC, Simitis embraced it, believing Greece could leverage its relative independence and the diverse interests of its Member States. His perspective shaped my pro-EU stance during my LLM at UCL (1982-1983), where I deepened my understanding of the EU's complexities.
As Minister of Coordination (Economy) between 1985-1987, he implemented an austerity program to stabilize Greece’s finances, enduring harsh criticism and vilification. He taught me the value of perseverance and loyalty—qualities he exemplified when, despite rumours, he refused to split PASOK after being dismissed by Papandreou after he successfully completed this task.
Throughout his career, he honoured me by proposing my appointments to the boards of state companies in the energy and infrastructure sectors (1992-2002). The sense of responsibility he instilled ensured I gave my best, as the idea that anything I would do (or omit to do) could negatively affect him, kept me in check.
In 2021, I had the opportunity to meet with him again. I was no longer the young aspiring student or rising star lawyer. Indeed, I had turned 60! He was no longer the Prime Minister or an active politician. We met in his office, and we chatted for a while about family and politics. I thanked him for his mentoring and his effect on my life. He responded with his characteristic smirking smile—a gesture that conveyed his pleasure.
Simitis left an indelible mark on my life. I am profoundly grateful for the privilege of knowing him and for the lessons he imparted, both directly and through example.
