ATHENS, February 12. /TASS/. Greece’s parliament has selected its former speaker Kostas (Konstantinos) Tasoulas, whose candidacy was supported by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as the country’s new president, according to the results of the fourth round of parliamentary voting.
The first three rounds of voting, held on January 25, 31 and February 6, were inconclusive. In the first and second rounds, a candidate had to collect two-thirds of the votes of the parliamentarians (200 out of 300), while in the third round, 180 out of 300 votes were needed. In the first three rounds, Tasoulas received only 160 votes. In the fourth round, a candidate is considered elected if he or she receives 151 votes. The ruling New Democracy party, which nominated Tasoulas, has 156 seats in parliament. A total of 276 parliamentarians took part in the voting, with 39 abstaining.
Four candidates were nominated for head of state, but Tasoulas was the only one with a real chance of winning in the five rounds of voting required by the constitution.
The voting took place without the discussion of the candidates. The parliamentarians could either vote for a candidate or abstain. It is forbidden to vote against a presidential candidate.
The five-year term of the current president, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, expires on March 13. The office of the Greek president is largely ceremonial.
After the voting, Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis will go to Tasoulas to inform him of the results. The newly elected president will take the oath of office on March 13.