Constantine Tassoulas was sworn in as President of the Hellenic Republic on Thursday. Tassoulas will succeed Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Greece’s first woman president and former Chief Justice of the Council of State.
Tassoulas, the former president of the Hellenic Parliament, was elected President of the Hellenic Republic on February 12, receiving 160 votes from the 300-seat Greek parliament.
The new Greek president was welcomed to the Parliament by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the current Parliament President Nikitas Kaklamanis.
Tassoulas left the parliament after greeting the party leaders.
Tassoulas: I am called upon to defend the interests, rights and progress of the Greek people
After being sworn in at the Hellenic Parliament, new President of the Hellenic Republic Constantine Tassoulas laid a wreath at the monument of the Unknown Soldier and then made his way to the Presidential Mansion.
He was welcomed by the outgoing President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, for the handover ceremony.
Upon his arrival, Sakellaropoulou stated: “I congratulate you on your election and welcome you to the Presidency of the Republic. I wish you every success in your duties. Your previous term as President of the Parliament and your significant political career as a politician who consistently serves the values and ideals of the nation and cultivates democratic consensus, are guarantees for the best possible fulfillment of your work. You are taking office in uncertain times, with many tensions within and outside the country, in a transitional world and in an era of successive crises. The unifying and symbolic discourse and role of the President of the Republic, the commitment to the Constitution and the laws and the contact with society enhance the trust in the regime and hope for the progress of our country. I am certain that you will move in this direction, Mr. President. On my part, I will be at your disposal.”
Responding, Tassoulas stated, among others: “Madam President, in this environment and these challenges and with my responsibilities defined by the Constitution, I am called upon and obliged, first of all, to defend the observance of the Constitution and the harmonious and reliable functioning of the institutions. Secondly, I am called upon to defend national integrity and thirdly, the general interests, rights and progress of the Greek people.”
