Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis named Katerina Sakellaropoulou as the conservative New Democracy government’s candidate for the post of the President of the Hellenic Republic, the nation’s highest position, on Wednesday, however consensus will be needed for the bid to be successful.
MeRA25 leader Yanis Varoufakis on Thursday proposed Magda Fyssa, the mother of slain rapper Pavlos Fyssas, who was stabbed to death by Golden Dawn party members in September 2013. He said that his proposal is “a powerful message of popular unity and humanitarianism”, adding that electing the country’s president is a chance to win against “bigotry and authoritarianism”.
“MeRA25 believes that there is no other personality that better symbolises unity” as Ms Fyssa, “the woman who took it upon herself to fight for the dignity of Greeks, who transformed herself from a mother to a political person and who unites everyone without giving way,” Mr Varoufakis said.
On her part, Ms Fyssa was taken aback by MeRA25’s announcement when she was made aware of it and turned down the offer.
The voting procedure for the election of a new President of the Hellenic Republic will be held on Wednesday, 22 January, in accordance with the revised Article 32 of the Greek Constitution.
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A majority of 200 MPs need to vote in her favour in the first and second ballots in order to secure her election, whereas the third ballot requires 180. Should all three ballots fail, a fourth vote will be held which requires the majority of 151 MPs whereas the fifth and final vote only requires the majority of those present.
Sources also state that discussion for the new electoral law will begin on Thursday, 23 January.