Judicial appointments hinge on president

The government's bid for consensus with opposition conservatives over its intention to replace the Supreme Court's president and prosecutor before a snap election on July 7 fell by the wayside on Thursday after its proposal was turned down by New Democracy. 

If the government insists on moving ahead with its plans, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos will be called upon to sign the relevant presidential decree.

However, Pavlopouos is not expected to do so before June 30, when the court's president Vasilios Peppas and prosecutor Xeni Dimitriou will step down. After June 30, the stance of Pavlopoulos, a constitutional lawyer, will depend on whether he deems that the move would violate the Constitution. 

In a letter yesterday to ND leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Justice Minister Michalis Kalogirou had urged the conservatives to get on board with the government plans...