How the Greek president is elected

The President of the Hellenic Republic, elected by Parliament every five years, serves as the head of state, although the role is largely ceremonial.

The process to elect the next president is scheduled to begin on January 25, following Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ announcement nominating Parliament Speaker Kostas Tasoulas.

However, as many opposition parties have decided to nominate their own candidates instead of supporting the prime minister’s choice, the election is expected to require multiple rounds of voting.

The first two rounds require a two-thirds majority of 200 MPs for a candidate to be elected. If this threshold is not met, a third round requires 180 votes, and a fourth round further lowers the requirement to a simple majority of 151 votes. Should the election proceed to a fifth round, only a relative majority is needed.

Additionally, a recent constitutional amendment ensures that the election of the president is no longer tied to the early dissolution of Parliament if a candidate fails to secure the required majority in the initial rounds.

Hellenic President Katerina Sakellaropoulou released a statement on Wednesday following the announcement of Kostas Tasoulas’ candidacy by Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Sakellaropoulou expressed gratitude to Mitsotakis for nominating her five years ago and emphasizing her commitment to serve the Greek people. 

“I sought to fulfill my duties with the utmost responsibility towards the Greek people and my conscience, respecting the responsibilities and institutional role recognized by the constitution,” she stated, adding her wishes for success to the next president.

Sakellaropoulou’s term officially ends on March 13, 2025. 

Source: ekathimerini.com