ATHENS, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis officially nominated Constantine Tassoulas, the parliament speaker from his New Democracy party, for the Greek presidency on Wednesday.
The current President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, will complete her five-year term in March, and the initial parliamentary vote for the position is expected on Jan. 25. To secure the presidency, a candidate must have the support of at least 151 out of the 300 lawmakers in the parliament.
Despite New Democracy holding 156 seats, recent departures may challenge the party's unity. The party, currently in power since 2019, is leading in the polls but faces declining popularity due to economic challenges and controversial reforms.
Mitsotakis, in a televised address, highlighted Tassoulas' 20 years of political and legal experience, his wide acceptance, and his ability to unite. He called for a single six-year presidential term in the future, aimed at ensuring political stability.
Tassoulas expressed his deep honor at the nomination, drawing praise from analysts as a calculated, centrist move by the government to maintain unity within the party and secure its position.
Opposition parties, including Syriza, are likely to nominate their own candidate, with Louka Katseli being their suggestion. Mitsotakis encouraged them to consider his choice for the sake of national unity.
As a token of appreciation, Mitsotakis thanked President Sakellaropoulou for her service, emphasizing unity and progress for Greece. Sakellaropoulou expressed her commitment to fulfilling her duties responsibly and wished success to the future President of Greece.