Greece elects conservative Tassoulas as president despite protests
Feb 13, 2025
Athens [Greece], February 13: Greece's parliament has elected the conservative government's nominee, Constantine Tassoulas, as the country's president, despite protester anger as justice is sought for a deadly 2023 train crash.
Tassoulas, a key ally of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, won the backing of 160 lawmakers in Wednesday's vote in the 300-seat parliament to succeed Katerina Sakellaropoulou. Greece's first female president's five-year term expires in March.
Mitsotakis said last month that he chose Tassoulas on account of his political experience, widespread acceptance, and his "unifying spirit".
But the decision to nominate him led to angry rallies outside parliament. Protesters say that on Tassoulas's watch as parliamentary speaker, lawmakers failed to investigate any political responsibility for Greece's worst rail disaster.
Fifty-seven people were killed when a freight train and a passenger train packed with students collided in February 2023 outside the city of Larissa.
The disaster prompted demonstrations across the country as many blamed safety deficiencies in Greece's railway network and demanded punishment for those responsible. (Agencies)
Source: Qatar Tribune
