Greek parliament fails to elect president in third round
This photograph shows the facade of the Parliament building in Athens, on May 29, 2023 (AFP Photo)
Greece’s parliament failed to elect a new president in the third round of voting on Thursday, with no candidate securing the required 180 votes.
The deadlock means a fourth and final round of voting will take place next week, where the threshold for victory drops to 151 votes, increasing the chances of a resolution.
Details
- Konstantinos Tasoulas, the ruling New Democracy party’s nominee and former parliament speaker, secured 160 votes, the same as in previous rounds.
- Louka Katseli, backed by leftist SYRIZA and the New Left Party, received 40 votes.
- Tasos Giannitsis, supported by the opposition PASOK, gained 34 votes.
- Kostas Kyriakou, the far-right Niki party’s candidate, obtained 14 votes.
- The Greek presidency is largely ceremonial, but the failure to elect a candidate highlights political divisions in the country’s parliament.
What’s next?
A final vote is set for next week, where Tasoulas will need just 151 votes to secure the presidency. If he fails again, the political deadlock could lead to further negotiations or instability within parliament.
