Konstantinos Tasoulas becomes Greece's new president

Greece’s parliamentary speaker Konstantinos Tasoulas was elected as new president of the Hellenic Republic in the fourth round of voting.

A 66-year-old Tasoulas secured 160 votes, surpassing the required 151. According to media reports, all 156 MPs from the ruling New Democracy party supported his candidacy, alongside former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and three independent MPs.

Tasoulas, a lawyer and long-time politician, will take over from Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Greece’s first female president, when her term ends on March 13, 2025.

Born in Ioannina, Greece, he studied at the Athens Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and earned a law degree in 1981. He worked as a lawyer in Athens and London, as well as took positions as prime ministry’s special secretary and mayor of Kifissia before being elected as a speaker of parliament. 

Tasoulas’ appointment faced significant opposition, particularly from left-wing parties PASOK and SYRIZA. Critics argue that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis broke the long-standing tradition of selecting a nonpartisan president, instead choosing a sitting MP from his own party.

PASOK spokesperson Kostas Tsoukalas criticised the move, stating:

“Mr Mitsotakis is making a purely partisan choice by selecting a sitting MP from the New Democracy party for the highest office. He acted unilaterally, breaking political traditions and exposing his deep political insecurity.”

Public anger was also fuelled by the 2023 Tempi train disaster, which killed 57 people. Protesters accuse Tasoulas of failing to ensure a parliamentary investigation into potential political responsibility. Just last week, protesters marched through Athens, shouting “Murderers! Murderers!”

Despite the backlash, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, cited by Greek Reporter, defended his nominee, praising his experience and leadership. He said:

“Neither the different backgrounds of a president and a prime minister guarantee institutional balance, nor does their political alignment inherently create risks for the state.”

Mitsotakis emphasised that Tasoulas had been elected as parliamentary speaker with record-breaking support, stating:

“His unifying spirit and virtues have been demonstrated by the impeccable manner in which he has, until now, directed the work of the Parliament in a very difficult party landscape.”

With this election, Konstantinos Tasoulas becomes the 9th President of the Hellenic Republic and is expected to be sworn in on March 13

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