New President of Greece

Greece has elected former parliamentary speaker Konstantinos Tasoulas as its new president, but the decision has sparked backlash.

Konstantinos Tasoulas wins with 160 votes

On Wednesday, February 12, Greece’s 300-seat parliament elected 66-year-old Tasoulas as the country’s new president in the fourth round of voting. He secured 160 votes, surpassing the required 151. According to Greek Reporter, 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.

The President of Greece, also known as ‘President of the Hellenic Republic’, serves a largely ceremonial role, overseeing the functioning of democratic institutions but without executive power. According to Greek Reporter, the presidency was established in 1975, a year after Greece’s military dictatorship ended.

Protests over Tasoulas’ presidency

Tasoulas’ appointment has 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.” (Cited by Greek Reporter).

Public anger has also been 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!”

According to To Vima, critics accuse Tasoulas of “burying” key evidence linked to the disaster by placing a prosecutor’s report in an open case file without presenting it to parliament. Maria Karystianou, who represents victims’ families, wrote to parliament urging a postponement of the election due to unanswered questions surrounding Tasoulas’ role.

Despite the backlash, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has 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.” (Cited by Greek Reporter.)

Mitsotakis emphasised that Tasoulas has 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.”

Despite the controversy, Tasoulas will be officially sworn in on March 13, 2025.

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