• Elections in Greece: Syriza's path to New Democracy
  • Profile: Kyriakos Mitsotakis: the scourge of populism by Alexis Tsipras

The Hellenic Parliament on Wednesday approved by a large majority the candidacy as head of the State of Judge Ekaterini Sakelaropulu , which makes for the first time a woman president of Greece.

Sakelaropulu gathered 261 votes, well above the 200 that it needed to be elected in this first vote, thanks to the support of the government party, the conservative New Democracy, and the largest opposition parties: the leftist Syriza and the coalition center-left Movement of Change.

Sakelaropulu, 64, a magistrate of the country's Supreme Court, who came to preside in 2018, is considered a center-left, although she does not play in any political party . It is a discrete figure little known among the population but well valued among politicians and among the judiciary.

"Greece enters a new era today, the country enters the third decade of the 21st century with a woman president. I wish Mrs. Sakelaropulu a successful presidency," said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after the election.

After approving the candidacy that Mitsotakis himself proposed, Sakelaropulu is expected to take office on March 13 - a day after the expiration of the mandate of his predecessor, Prokópis Pavlopulos -, beginning 5 years at the head of the headquarters of State.

In Greece it is very common for leftist governments to propose conservative presidents, and vice versa, to offer an image of institutional consensus. Precisely thanks to this conciliatory wink to the progressive opposition, Mitsotakis has achieved the vast majority that has given the position today to Sakelaropulu.

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