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Presidency
of the Hellenic Republic

ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT

Information and ellection procedure

ELECTION

OF THE PRESIDENT

The President of the Republic regulates the functions of the institutions of the Republic (article 30 par. 1).

The President is elected by Parliament for a term of five years, and has the right to re-election only once. Before assuming his or her duties the President takes an oath before Parliament, the form of which is laid down in the Constitution.

The Oath of the President of the Republic

(article 33 par. 2)

“ 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. ”

The Tenure of the President
(article 30)

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.
  • Whenever the procedure for the election of a new President is not completed in time, the incumbent President shall continue in office until a new President is elected.

Eligibility for election
(article 31)

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.

The procedure for the election of the President of the Republic (article 32)

1. The President of the Republic shall be elected by the Parliament through vote by roll call in a special sitting called for this purpose by the Speaker at least one month before the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent President, as specified by the Standing Orders. In case of permanent incapacity of the President of the Republic to discharge his duties, as specified in paragraph 2 of article 34, as well as in case of his resignation, demise, or removal from office in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the sitting of Parliament in order to elect a new President is called within ten days at the latest from the premature termination of the tenure of office by the previous President.

2. In all cases, the election of a President shall be made for a full term.

3. The person receiving a two-thirds majority of the total number of Members of Parliament shall be elected President of the Republic. Should the said majority not be attained, the ballot shall be repeated after five days. Should the second ballot fail to produce the required majority, the ballot shall once more be repeated after five days; the person receiving a three-fifths majority of the total number of Members of Parliament shall be elected President of the Republic.

4. Should the third ballot fail to produce the said qualified majority, the ballot 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. Should this majority also not be attained, the ballot shall once more be repeated after five days between the two persons with the highest number of votes, and the person receiving a relative majority shall be deemed elected President of the Republic. If the votes are evenly divided, the person receiving the highest number of votes in the first ballot of the previous paragraph shall be elected President of the Republic.

5. Should the Parliament be absent, a special session shall be convoked to elect the President of the Republic, as specified in paragraph 4. If the Parliament has been dissolved in any way whatsoever, the election of the President of the Republic shall be postponed until the new Parliament shall have constituted itself as a body and within twenty days at the latest thereof, as specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 and in adherence with the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 34.

6. Should the procedure specified under the preceding paragraphs for the election of a new President not be completed on time, the incumbent President of the Republic shall continue to discharge his duties even after his term of office has expired, until a new President of the Republic is elected.