Tsipras nominates former ND minister Pavlopoulos for president

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has nominated former conservative ND minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos for the post of president of the republic, making the announcement to his MPs on Tuesday.

At the end of his address, where he commented on the current developments with regard to negotiations between Greece and its EU partners, Tsipras said the ruling leftist party will nominate Pavlopoulos. Justifying his decision, the PM underlined that the Left was never arrogant in crucial times and never claimed high distinctions for itself, noting that the new President has to have democratic sensitivity, display patriotic responsibility and enjoy the parliament's recognition.

If the Pavlopoulos accepts the nomination he will be a shoo-in for the utterly ceremonial post of president.

The roll call vote for the election of the new president will be held on Wednesday at 7.30 p.m. According to the Greek Constitution, the candidate must gained 3/5 of the total number of deputies to be elected as the new President of the Republic in the first vote. However, if unsuccessful, he will need 150+1 MPs in a second vote. The lower figure did not apply to late December 2014?s vote for a new president, given that the constitution envisions a simple majority in case snap elections are held because a president was not elected by the immediately preceding legistlature.

Curriculum Vitae

Born in Kalamata, in the extreme southern Peloponnese province in 1950, Pavlopoulos graduated from high school in his home town and moved to Athens to attend law school in 1968.

He is married to Vlassia Pavlopoulou-Peltsemi and they have three children: Vassilis, an attorney-at-law, Maria, a French language and literature graduate and Zoe, a nursery school...