Galery

1

The original plan of Alexis Tsipras changed and ultimately the Greek Prime Minister did not deliver a statement to announce the presidential candidate of the ruling coalition.

Instead of the Prime Minister, government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis stated that the name of the presidential candidate would be announced during the meeting of the parliamentary group of SYRIZA on Tuesday and the first parliamentary vote would take place on Wednesday.

Sakellaridis stressed that there was neither a problem nor a change in the plans and that yesterday's debate in the Prime Minister's residence Maximou was associated with today's crucial meeting of the Εurogroup.

The government spokesman noted that "although the name is already certain, the government has decided to announce it after the meeting of the Eurogroup".

Earlier on Sunday afternoon, Minister of Defence and leader of Independent Greeks Panos Kammenos had arrived in the Prime Minister's residence Maximou, which indicates that time is seriously pressing the government, as far as the issue of electing the head of state is concerned.

The parliamentary group of Independent Greeks will meet at 04:00 pm on Tuesday too, to decide whom it will propose for president.

According to sources, Panos Kammenos had nominated Dora Bakogiannis but the Prime Minister had not responded, referring the matter to the party bodies and the meeting of the parliamentary group.

Ministers of Productive Reconstruction Panagiotis Lafazanis, SYRIZA secretary Dimitris Vitsas and parliamentary representative of the party Nikos Filis were at the Prime Minister's residence Maximou yesterday afternoon as well.

According to all sources, the most likely candidate for Greece’s president is European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos but the leadership of SYRIZA has preferred not to put its cards on the table in view of the significant objections inside the party to the election of a person from the parties which supported the memorandum and the austerity policy.

The political secretariat of SYRIZA held a meeting also on Sunday afternoon, its main topic being the assessment of the current negotiations between the government and the lenders, the positions of the cabinet in view of today's meeting of the Eurogroup as well as the further tactics of the government.

The mandate of current President of Greece Karolos Papoulias expires on 13 March and his successor to occupy the highest state post has to be elected by 12 March at the latest.

If European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos is ultimately the candidate for Greece’s president, it is expected that he will be elected by parliament in the first round, which requires 180 votes, according to the national constitution.