Greece's parliament today approved the appointment of Konstantinos Tasoulas, of the New Democracy party, as President in the fourth and final vote on choosing the head of state for a five-year term.
The head of state in Greece has limited powers and the position is traditionally held by a figure from outside the political sphere.
Yet Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis chose to support a political ally.
The lack of consensus on Tasoulas complicated the parliamentary process, which required three preliminary votes so that, in the fourth vote, all 156 deputies from the New Democracy party had the support of independent parliamentarians.
Tasoulas, a former speaker of parliament, received the support of 160 of the 300 deputies.
Konstantinos Tasoulas will replace Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Greece's first female head of state.
The inauguration is scheduled for March 13, the date on which the outgoing President's term ends.
