Greeces parliament chose its former speaker, Constantine Tassoulas, as the countrys president on Wednesday, approving the conservative governments nominee for the largely ceremonial role.The choice to choose him has actually outraged protesters who rallied outside parliament last month seeking justice over a lethal 2023 train crash.
They say that on Tassoulas view as parliamentary speaker, legislators failed to examine any political responsibility over Greeces worst rail disaster.Two years later, a judicial probe is still in development.
Parliament is the only body that can examine politicians under Greek law.Tassoulas, 66, an attorney and daddy of two who has actually been a lawmaker because 2000 and has actually formerly acted as Greeces culture minister and deputy defence minister, won the backing of 160 legislators in Wednesdays vote in the 300-seat parliament.He will be successful Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Greeces initially female president, whose five-year term ends in March.Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said last month that he selected Tassoulas on account of his political experience, widespread acceptance, and his unifying spirit.Political analysts see Tassoulas nomination as focused on strengthening Mitsotakis grip on power.
His conservative New Democracy party has a little parliamentary bulk with 156 seats but is under mounting pressure, viewpoint polls suggest.Centre-left and leftist opposition parties had proposed other candidates and did not back Tassoulas nomination on Wednesday.For years, failure by parliament to choose a president in Greece might lead to a breeze election.
After a reform, following a decade-long financial crisis, the procedure can include approximately five ballot rounds in parliament, with the threshold gradually falling to most of those present in the chamber.Tassoulas will be sworn in as head of state on March 13.
Source: Reuters-- Agencies