Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the country on Wednesday morning, announcing his Presidential nomination of Kostas Tasoulas as the next President of Greece. This decision quickly sparked a wave of political reactions, ranging from support within the ruling New Democracy party to strong criticism from opposition parties.
Support from New Democracy
Following the announcement, Tasoulas’ colleagues from New Democracy quickly expressed their support. Several MPs visited his office in Parliament to congratulate him personally. Among those present were ND Secretary Maria Syrengela, Notis Mitarakis, and Vassilis Ypsilantis.
Tasoulas’ office, located on the ground floor of Parliament, became a hub of activity as members of the party voiced their satisfaction with the nomination.
Statement from Outgoing President Sakellaropoulou
Outgoing President Katerina Sakellaropoulou also made a public statement, reflecting on her tenure and offering well-wishes for her successor:
“Five years ago, the Hellenic Parliament elected me to the office of President of the Hellenic Republic, following the proposal of the Prime Minister and President of New Democracy, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. I thank them for the honor and trust. During my term, I tried to fulfill my duties with the greatest possible responsibility towards the Greek people and my conscience, respecting the responsibilities and the institutional role that the Constitution recognizes for the President of the Republic. I wish every success to the President who will be chosen by the Hellenic Parliament for the next five years.”
Opposition Criticism
However the announcement has been met with sharp criticism from opposition parties, particularly PASOK and SYRIZA, who argue that Tasoulas’ nomination reflects a narrow partisan approach.
PASOK Press Spokesperson Costas Tsoukalas criticized the decision in an interview with ERT:
“The Prime Minister demonstrated today that he has no awareness of what consensus means, even in the highest institutional matters, as it had been enshrined for decades for the selection of the President of the Republic. Mr. Mitsotakis is making a narrow partisan choice, choosing a sitting member of parliament from the New Democracy party for the highest office. He operated in a one-party manner, breaking political traditions and revealing his deep political insecurity. The regulator of the state, in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution, cannot obviously be a person completely identified with the government party.”
SYRIZA echoed these sentiments, issuing a statement that denounced Tasoulas’ nomination as a violation of democratic tradition:
“Tasoulas is a narrowly partisan choice. Mitsotakis violated the democratic tradition that the government should propose a president from the opposing party for the sake of balance in the political system. He insulted Mrs. Sakellaropoulou and exposed Mr. Androulakis who was waiting for him while the proposal of Mrs. Katseli was formulated. A narrowly partisan nomination, it instrumentalizes and subordinates the institution to the settlement of its internal party problems. PASOK is trapped in the strategy of Mr. Mitsotakis, we call on it to support Mrs. Katseli.”
Zoe Konstantopoulou, leader of the Path for Freedom party, also expressed her strong disagreement with the Prime Minister’s Presidential nomination. Meanwhile, the Democracy Movement criticized the choice in a statement:
“The proposal for the President of the Republic must contribute to the strengthening of the Republic and national unity. However, the choice of Mr. Tasoulas for the office of the President does not express this need for understanding and de-partisanship. On the contrary, it is a purely partisan choice that demonstrates the absence of a real willingness for cooperation and national reconciliation.”
Shortly after the announcement, Konstantinos Tasoulas addressed Parliament, outlining the timeline for the presidential election, which is set to begin on Saturday, January 25.
