The world was stunned to learn of the death of a well-known former prime minister.

According to ABC News, Costas Simitis, the former prime minister of Greece who was credited with being the architect behind getting his country on board with using the Euro, has died.

TV ERT reported that Simitis was 88.

The lead-up to the announcement of his death happened on Sunday morning when he was rushed to a local hospital, reportedly without a pulse.

What happened?

There was no cause of death provided, and an autopsy will reportedly be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

He was rushed to the hospital from his holiday home west of Athens, reports indicated. The coroner reported that Simitis didn't have a pulse and was not breathing.

Greek politicians of all stripes paid tribute to the former prime minister, including Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who released a statement on social media regarding the shocking death announcement.

“I bid farewell to Costas Simitis with sadness and respect. A worthy and noble political opponent," he wrote, while also saluting the "good professor and moderate parliamentarian."

Costas Simitis, the former prime minister of Greece who brought the country into the euro, has died at age 88, state TV reported. https://t.co/0g1bhBFR6k

— Bloomberg (@business) January 5, 2025

Former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos paid his respects in a statement regarding a time the two worked together.

"He served the country with devotion and a sense of duty. ... He was steadfast in facing difficult challenges and promoted policies that changed the lives of (many) citizens,” Avramopoulos said.

Background

Simitis made a political splash while serving as the country's prime minister.

ABC News noted:

Simitis, a co-founder of the Socialist PASOK party in 1974, eventually became the successor to the party’s founding leader, Andreas Papandreou, with whom he had an often contentious relationship that shaped the party’s nature. Simitis was a low-key pragmatist where Papandreou was a charismatic, fiery populist.

Simitis was also credited with helping the country secure the 2004 Olympic Games, and oversaw much of the infrastructure projects that went into making the city ready for the global event.

The late prime minister is survived by his wife of 60 years, Daphne, two daughters and a granddaughter.