Prokopis Pavlopoulos Elected New Greek President

Prokopis Pavlopoulos was voted the next Greek president on Wednesday evening by the Greek Parliament, with a total of 233 votes that included the ruling coalition parties and New Democracy (ND).

Pavlopoulos was the candidate proposed by the senior ruling coalition partner SYRIZA. He was endorsed by junior partner ANEL and by main opposition ND party, whose minister he once was. 

To Potami's candidate, Nikos Alivizatos, received a total of 30 votes; he was also supported by PASOK. Extreme-right Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avgi) and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), voted "present". In total, 32 lawmakers voted "present".

Pavlopoulos will replace President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, whose second and last term ends in March.

The newly-elected President, accepted on Wednesday his election from parliament as a great debt towards Greek citizens, following a visit by Parliament speaker Zoi Konstantopoulou at 10.30, who officially announced him the result.