The President of the Republic regulates the functions of the institutions of the Republic (article 30 par. 1).
The President is elected by Parliament and has the right to re-election only once.
The elected President, before assuming his duties, takes, before Parliament, an oath, the form of which is laid down in the Constitution.

(article 33 par. 2)
The Oath of the President of the Republic

"I swear in the name of the Holy, Consubstantial and Indivisible Trinity to safeguard the Constitution and the laws, to ensure their faithful observance, to defend the national independence and territorial integrity of the Country, to protect the rights and liberties of the Greeks and to serve the general interest and the progress of the Greek People."


(article 30)

The tenure of the President of the Republic

The President is elected for a term of five years. This may be extended in two cases:

  • in the event of war, until its termination
  • when the procedure for the election of a new President is not completed in time, the incumbent President shall continue in office until such time as a new President is elected
(article 31)
Eligibility for election

To be eligible for election to the Presidency, a person must:

  • have attained Greek citizenship at least five years before the election
  • be of Greek descent on the father's or mother's side
  • have attained the age of forty
  • be legally entitled to vote

The office of President of the Republic is incompatible with any other office, position or function.
(article 32)
The procedure for the election of the President of the Republic

The President of the Republic shall be elected through vote by roll call in a session specially convened for this purpose by the Speaker at least one month before the expiry of the term of office of the incumbent President.
The election of the President of the Republic shall be conducted either in one or two stages, between which general elections are obligatory.
(article 32 par. 3)
The first stage of the procedure

The first stage includes three separate ballots:

  • FIRST BALLOT - 200 VOTES
    in the first ballot the votes of a two-thirds majority of the total number of Members of Parliament shall be required

  • SECOND BALLOT - 200 VOTES
    if the said majority is not attained, the ballot shall be repeated after five days, the same majority being required

  • THIRD BALLOT - 180 VOTES
    if once again the required majority is not attained, voting shall be repeated after five days, the person receiving the votes of a three-fifths majority of the total number of Members of Parliament shall be elected President of the Republic

If the third ballot also fails to produce the required majority, Parliament shall be dissolved within ten days of the vote and elections for a new Parliament shall be called.

(article 32 par. 4)
Second stage of the procedure

The second stage of the procedure shall be conducted by the new Parliament as soon as it has constituted itself as a body and shall include another three successive ballots:

  • FIRST BALLOT - 180 VOTES
    in the first ballot the votes of a three-fifths majority of the total number of Members
    of Parliament shall be required

  • SECOND BALLOT - 151 VOTES
    should this majority not be attained, voting shall be repeated within five days and the person receiving an absolute majority of the votes of the total number of Members of Parliament shall be elected President of the Republic

  • THIRD BALLOT
    if the second ballot fails to produce the required majority, then within five days the third and final vote shall take place between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes. The person who receives a relative majority shall be elected President of the Republic.