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The President of the Republic (P.R.) is the head of state and, since 1975, is elected by the Hellenic Parliament for a five-year term.
Although designated as the “supreme leader of the Greek state,” the position is mainly symbolic, as the President does not make or implement policy.
The President’s duties are symbolic. Among them are:
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The President is elected by Parliament and can be re-elected only once.
The term is five years, which may be extended in the event of war or if the election of a new President is not completed on time. Candidates are proposed only by parliamentary groups.
This year, the voting in Parliament must begin by February 13, one month before the current President, K. Sakellaropoulou’s term ends.
The President is elected if they receive two-thirds of the total votes in the first round (200 votes)..
If there is no result, the vote is repeated after 5 days, and a majority of 200 votes is required again.
If no result is reached, a third vote is held, requiring a majority of three-fifths of all MPs (180 seats).
An absolute majority (151 votes) is required if a fourth vote is needed. In the fifth vote, only a relative majority is required, meaning a majority of those present.
Until 2019, if the President was not elected in the third vote, Parliament would be dissolved, and elections would be called.
The institution of the President of the Republic was first established in 1924, but after a decade of political instability, it was abolished in 1935.
It was reinstated at the end of the Junta of the Colonels (1973), giving the President significant powers. After the restoration of democracy and the 1975 Constitution, the role of the President was redefined, and their duties have changed with constitutional revisions.
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From 1995 to 2020, there has been a political tradition in which the government selects a candidate from the opposition.
This ensures an agreement between parties and secures a large majority in the relevant parliamentary votes.
For example, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis (ND) proposed Karolos Papoulias (PASOK) in 2005, and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (SYRIZA) proposed Prokopis Pavlopoulos (ND) in 2015.
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Although the history of the Evzones dates back to 1868, in 1974, with the restoration of democracy, they were officially named the “Presidential Guard” and are under the authority of the President of the Republic
The Evzones guard the President by standing sentry in front of the Presidential Palace and at the gate of the Presidential Guard Barracks.
They also stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 24/7 and perform the raising and lowering of the flag at the Acropolis on Sundays and official holidays.
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At the beginning of the year, a list of gifts received by the President in the previous year is published on the Presidency’s website for transparency. These gifts:
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