In the third round of voting for the election of the President of the Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas once again failed to secure the necessary majority, collecting 160 votes—short of the 180 required for election.
This means a fourth and final vote will take place on February 12, where only a simple majority of 151 votes will be needed to determine Greece’s next president.
The results of the third ballot mirrored the first two rounds.
- Tasoulas, the New Democracy (ND) candidate, received 160 votes, supported by 156 ND MPs and four independents—Samaras, Salmas, Katsivardas, and Sarakis.
- Louka Katseli, backed by SYRIZA-PS, the New Left, and independent MPs Sarakiotis, Papaioannou, and Linou, secured 40 votes.
- PASOK-Movement for Change candidate Tasos Giannitsis received 31 votes from PASOK MPs, along with support from independents Baran, Thraskia, and Pappas.
- Konstantinos Kyriakou was supported by all 10 MPs from the Niki party and four independent MPs who previously belonged to the Spartiates—Valtogiannis, Manousos, Dimitrokallis, and Floros.
- In addition, 52 MPs chose to vote “present,” including members of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Hellenic Solution, and Freedom Voyage, as well as independent MPs aligned with Stefanos Kasselakis and the Democracy Movement. Notably, Evangelos Apostolakis also opted for this stance.
Next Vote on February 12
The next and decisive round of voting is scheduled for February 12 at 10 a.m. Under the Greek Constitution, this fourth vote will only require a simple majority of 151 votes, making it highly likely that Tasoulas will be elected as the next President of the Republic.
Political Tensions Rise Amid Tempi Tragedy Fallout
The latest round of voting occurred under an increasingly charged political climate. The opposition parties, particularly PASOK and SYRIZA, are escalating their efforts against the New Democracy government, fueled by public outrage over the handling of the Tempi train disaster. New evidence has emerged regarding the crash, triggering fresh nationwide protests and further allegations of a cover-up.
PASOK is set to submit a proposal for a preliminary inquiry and SYRIZA is insisting on filing a motion of no confidence against the government. (In the midst of today’s proceedings Christos Triandopoulos resigned as Deputy Minister of Civil Protection amid accusations of a cover-up, denying all wrongdoing.)
Both opposition parties have also directed criticism toward Tasoulas, citing accusations from victims’ families that he was complicit in concealing crucial evidence related to the cause of the tragedy.
What Comes Next?
With the fourth and final vote set to take place in less than a week, Tasoulas is widely expected to secure the presidency with a simple majority of 151 votes. However, the mounting political tensions, fueled by ongoing allegations related to the Tempi disaster, suggest that the opposition will continue to challenge the government’s credibility and legitimacy in the coming weeks.
