Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced his decision to nominate Konstantinos Tasoulas as the candidate for President of the Republic proposed by the government.
Explaining his decision, the Prime Minister explained that "I have determined that in the coming period and in a turbulent international environment, the country needs a President of the Republic with a long career in public life and with clear political characteristics."
Specifically, regarding Konstantinos Tasoulas, he said that "his broad acceptance results from the fact that he was elected President of the Greek Parliament three times with the strongest majority in the post-coup period: with 283, 270 and 249 votes. While his unifying spirit and his synthetic virtues have, I think, been proven by the impeccable, by general admission, manner in which he has, until now, directed the work of the Parliament in a very difficult party landscape."
Kyriakos Mitsotakis also announced that in the next Constitutional Review, he will propose that the President of the Republic be elected for a single 6-year term and "this way, the discussion about renewing his stay in office would not open up, every now and then, the dance of confrontations. And the institution would remain far from partisan expediencies."
The Prime Minister's message
Today I share with you my thoughts on the highest state institution. And, at the same time, I announce the proposal of New Democracy for the person who will be called upon to serve it. Because citizens must know, judge arguments and thus become stakeholders in all developments in public life.
The President of the Republic must have high prestige, broad acceptance and, of course, experience, knowledge and practical respect for the institutions. Broad acceptance, however, does not necessarily mean a proposal beyond the respective government majority. On the contrary, it signals a person who will inspire confidence in society, who will have the ability to compose and unite.
Because the head of state may have limited executive powers, but he is the symbol of the nation. In relation, therefore, to his high mission, his political starting point is of less importance. On the other hand, neither the different origins of the President and the Prime Minister guarantee political balance, nor does their political coincidence create an institutional risk by definition. Our Constitution provides all the guarantees, while History also shows that individuals are the ones who ultimately give value to institutions.
In fact, given the unifying mission that the President of the Republic has, I believe that he should be elected for a single 6-year term. This way, the discussion about renewing his stay in office would not open up, every now and then, the dance of confrontations. And the institution would remain far from party expediencies. This is a position that we will propose to the Parliament during the upcoming constitutional revision.
With a sense of responsibility, I announce that the proposal of New Democracy regarding the next President of the Republic will be Konstantinos Tasoulas, the current Speaker of the Parliament and the third-ranking political figure in the country. His wide acceptance results from the fact that he was elected President of the Greek Parliament three times with the strongest majority in the Post-Coalition period: with 283, 270 and 249 votes. While his unifying spirit and his synthetic virtues have, I believe, also been demonstrated by the impeccable, by general admission, manner in which he has conducted, until now, the work of the Parliament in a very difficult party landscape.
Kostas Tasoulas has also served the place as Mayor, as a Member of Parliament for 25 years, and as a Minister. He is therefore well aware of the weight of responsibility he is called upon to assume. At the same time, his Epirus origin and his student years at the Tositsa Foundation armed him with the power of self-creation. They also sparked his special interest in the problems facing the Greek region, for every citizen, in every corner of the territory.
He also possesses a rich culture and deep knowledge of Greek History, true patriotism and an integral character, with social sensitivity and genuine simplicity and modesty. It is no coincidence that, although present on the front lines for years, he was never interested in crafting his own communication profile. All of these, therefore, constitute guarantees for an excellent term.
For her part, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, whom I have already informed of my choice, honored her mission with consistency and a sense of responsibility. Always holding national dignity high, she contributed to the institution a new, humane model of President. With cultural and scientific initiatives, but also by developing an unpretentious communication with citizens.
I have judged, however, that in the coming period and in a turbulent international environment, the country needs a President of the Republic with a long career in public life and with clear political characteristics. In any case, Katerina Sakellaropoulou leaves a positive imprint on the history of the country. As Prime Minister and as an ordinary citizen, I honor her and want to thank her from the bottom of my heart.
I call on all parties in Parliament to evaluate the candidacy of Kostas Tasoulas through a single prism: that of prestige and experience, knowledge and character, in order to emerge as a first citizen. And if the impartial answer to these criteria is affirmative, I ask them to support him. It will be a choice of unity and perspective for Greece.
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