Former Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos has died at the age of 90. Stephanopoulos served as president between 1995 and 2005 and won praise for his modesty during his time in office.
Greece’s Athens News Agency reported former Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos died late Sunday evening after a bout with pneumonia. He was 90 years old.
Stephanopoulos was hospitalized Thursday and his condition declined rapidly, according to a statement released by his doctors at Henry Dunant hospital in Athens Saturday. He soon suffered multiple organ failure and did not respond to treatment.
Current Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras expressed his condolences, saying Stephanopoulos was “a moral man with a lofty vision.”
Stephanopoulos, widely known by his first name, served two terms as president as allowed by the Greek constitution. Though the position is mostly ceremonial, he won popularity for his modesty during his time in office. Stephanopoulos worked well with politicians from all sides of the political spectrum, especially moderate socialist Costas Simitis, despite Stephanopoulos’ conservatism. Simitis was prime minister from 1996 to 2004.
kbd/bw (AP, dpa)