Parliament on Wednesday re-elected the uncontested incumbent President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias to a second term in Greece’s highest office, with an overwhelming majority of 266 votes in the 300-member House among the 298 MPs in attendance, while 32 MPs simply declared their presence.
Papoulias was re-elected with the votes of the ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), main opposition New Democracy (ND) and smaller opposition Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) parties’ MPs in a roll-call vote during a special session of the unicameral parliament.
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA parliamentary alliance) MPs did not vote for the incumbent, but simply declared themselves present when called.
Papoulias is the sixth President of the Republic since the restoration of democracy in Greece in 1974, following Mihalis Stasinopoulos, Constantine Tsatsos, Constantine Karamanlis, Christos Sartzetakis and Costis Stephanopoulos.
He will be sworn in for his second term on Friday, March 12 at noon.(Πηγή: ANA-MPA)
Filed under: Government, Greece, Politics | Tagged: 1974, Current Affairs, Democracy, Greece, Greek, πλειοψηφία, της, Έλληνας, Βουλή, Δημοκρατίας, Ελληνική, Κάρολος, Καραμανλής, ΛΑΟΣ, ΝΔ, Πρόεδρος, ΠΑΣΟΚ, Παπούλιας, Στασινόπουλος, Στεφανόπουλος, ΣΥΡΙΖΑ, Σαρτζετάκης, Τσάτσος, έκτος, αξίωμα, βουλευτές, Karolos, KKE, LAOS, majority, MPs, ND, of, Office, Papoulias, Parliament, PASOK, Politics, President, Republic, Restoration, SYRIZA, The, votes | Comments Off on Papoulias re-elected President of the Republic
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) The 35th anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece, after the collapse of the 7-year military dictatorship, was celebrated on Friday, July 24, at the Presidential Mansion. It was hosted by President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias and attended by the country’s political and military leadership as well as 1,200 guests, some 700 of whom participated in the resistance movement during the junta years. In his address, 
President Papoulias said that every such anniversary demands contemplation and vision for the future. He added that the celebration of this specific anniversary was “a choice that proves deep respect for all those who struggled against the dictatorship,” adding that lavish affairs and receptions were incompatible with the spirit of the struggle against the dictatorship. Referring to the resistance movement, Papoulias noted that it is the most powerful proof that “there is beauty and magnificence in Greek society,” and “the struggles of the Greek people are the nucleus of an optimism that gives rise to creative forces, casts off defeatism, and brings the aura of a better tomorrow.” (Photo: Constantine Karamanlis returns to Athens on July 24, 1974 with the mission to restore democracy)
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) James Edward Miller, 2009, The United States and the Making of Modern Greece (1950-1974), North Carolina University Press “Focusing on one of the most dramatic and controversial periods in modern Greek history (1949- 1974), 
Embassy of Greece in Poland Press & Communication Office 