Latest news with #Tassoulas
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Greek Lawmakers Elect Country's New President in Fourth Attempt
(Bloomberg) -- Greek lawmakers elected the country's new president in a fourth round of voting. Saudi Arabia's Neom Signs $5 Billion Deal for AI Data Center Nice Airport, If You Can Get to It: No Subway, No Highway, No Bridge The Forgotten French Architect Who Rebuilt Marseille Sin puente y sin metro: el nuevo aeropuerto de Lima es una debacle In New Orleans, an Aging Dome Tries to Stay Super Constantine Tassoulas, a close ally of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his pick for the role, secured 160 votes and was elected in Wednesday's vote, when he only needed a simple majority of 151 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament. In the previous three rounds he also received 160 votes mostly from Mitsotakis's center-right New Democracy party, which has 156 members of parliament, but failed to get elected as the threshold was higher. Tassoulas will replace Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the first Greek woman to serve in the role. He was first elected as a New Democracy lawmaker in 2000 and has since served as deputy defense minister and minister of culture and sports. He was elected as speaker in 2019 and reelected to the post twice in 2023 until he resigned when Mitsotakis named him as his candidate to be president of the Hellenic Republic. Opposition parties had made clear that they wouldn't support Tassoulas's candidacy, accusing Mitsotakis of picking someone who's an active member of his party's parliamentary group. In Greece, the role of president is largely symbolic but he can appoint and dismiss the prime minister, other ministers and deputy ministers. He also represents the state internationally and is the titular head of the armed forces. The president serves a five-year term that can be renewed once. Why Fast Food Could Be MAHA's Next Target Trump's Tariffs Make Currency Trading Cool Again After Years of Decline The Game Changer: How Ely Callaway Remade Golf Trump Promised to Run the Economy Hotter. His Shock and Awe May Have a Chilling Effect Orange Juice Makers Are Desperate for a Comeback ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Euronews
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Greek lawmakers elect former parliament speaker Constantine Tassoulas as president
Greek lawmakers have elected a former parliament speaker and leading advocate for the return of the Parthenon sculptures from the British Museum as the country's new president. Constantine Tassoulas, 65, was elected to the largely ceremonial post by the 300-member parliament on Wednesday, winning with 160 votes in the fourth round of voting. He takes over from Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the first woman to serve as Greece's head of state, who was not nominated for a second five-year term. Speaking after the result was declared, Tassoulas called the presidency 'a supreme honour for me, but above all a precious responsibility'. Tassoulas belongs to the governing centre-right New Democracy party, and served as culture minister a decade ago. During his tenure, he helped reinvigorate the campaign to repatriate the 2,500-year-old Parthenon sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, from the British Museum. During his tenure as culture minister, he collaborated with lawyer Amal Clooney, who lent her support to the country's bid for the sculptures' return, helping raise international awareness of the campaign in the process. The sculptures were removed from the Acropolis in Athens by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 1800s and have since been kept in the British Museum in central London. The Greek government insists their removal was illegal, and has long demanded their return, seeking to reunite them with other Parthenon artefacts displayed in a museum in Athens. Greek officials are more optimistic about the future of the sculptures since the advent of a Labour government in the UK, with its perceived openness to loan agreements. A potential arrangement to facilitate rotating exhibitions of ancient Greek artefacts at the museum is among the various proposals circulating.
The Independent
12-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Greece has a new president. Here's what it means in the battle for the Elgin Marbles
Greece has elected Constantine Tassoulas, a prominent advocate for the return of the Parthenon sculptures, as its new president. The 65-year-old former parliament speaker secured 160 votes in the 300-member parliament during the fourth round of voting. He succeeds Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the country's first female head of state. Following the announcement, Tassoulas described his election as 'a supreme honor... but above all a precious responsibility'. A lawyer and member of the governing center-right New Democracy party, Tassoulas previously served as culture minister. During his tenure, he played a key role in revitalising Greece's campaign to reclaim the 2,500-year-old Parthenon sculptures, often referred to as the Elgin Marbles, from the British Museum. The largely ceremonial role will see Tassoulas take on the mantle of head of state for a five-year term. During his time as culture minister, he hosted lawyer Amal Clooney in Athens, who lent her support to the country's bid for the sculptures' return. Clooney, the wife of actor George Clooney, helped raise international awareness of the campaign. The sculptures were removed from the Acropolis in Athens by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 1800s and have since been kept in the British Museum. The Greek government contends their removal was illegal and has long sought their return, seeking to reunite them with other Parthenon artefacts displayed in a museum in the Greek capital. Greek officials believe the return of the sculptures is more likely now due to the Labour government's perceived openness to loan agreements. In December, Keir Starmer ruled out discussing a return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece in his meeting with his Greek counterpart despite claims from Athens that progress had been made on the issue. While Downing Street insisted that the ancient sculptures would not be on the agenda for the bilateral meeting between the Sir Keir and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a Greek government official said progress has been made and it will be discussed further on Tuesday. The Greek official told The Times: 'Progress for the return of the Parthenon marbles has been made by the two sides and that is why Mitsotakis is meeting today with the British prime minister. Nothing is in hiding. Nothing is hidden.' Ongoing discussions on a potential arrangement would likely include an offer to facilitate rotating exhibitions of ancient Greek artefacts at the British Museum. In Decmber, a British Museum spokesman said discussions with Greece about a Parthenon Partnership are 'on-going and constructive.' 'We believe that this kind of long term partnership would strike the right balance between sharing our greatest objects with audiences around the world, and maintaining the integrity of the incredible collection we hold at the museum.'
Al Jazeera
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Greece elects conservative Tassoulas as president despite protests
Greece's parliament has elected the conservative government's nominee, Constantine Tassoulas, as the country's president, despite protester anger as justice is sought for a deadly 2023 train crash. Tassoulas, a key ally of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, won the backing of 160 lawmakers in Wednesday's vote in the 300-seat parliament to succeed Katerina Sakellaropoulou. Greece's first female president's five-year term expires in March. Mitsotakis said last month that he chose Tassoulas on account of his political experience, widespread acceptance, and his 'unifying spirit'. But the decision to nominate him led to angry rallies outside parliament. Protesters say that on Tassoulas's watch as parliamentary speaker, lawmakers failed to investigate any political responsibility for Greece's worst rail disaster. Fifty-seven people were killed when a freight train and a passenger train packed with students collided in February 2023 outside the city of Larissa. The disaster prompted demonstrations across the country as many blamed safety deficiencies in Greece's railway network and demanded punishment for those responsible. Two years later, a judicial probe is still continuing. Parliament is the only body that can investigate politicians under Greek law. According to a report by experts hired by families of the victims, the train crash sparked a huge fireball and it remains unclear what caused it. A growing number of experts have ruled out theories that electricity cables or oils used in the passenger train caused the fire, raising questions over the freight train's cargo. The centre-right government led by Mitsotakis, which was re-elected after the crash, has rejected accusations of wrongdoing. Centre-left and left-wing opposition parties had proposed other candidates and did not back Tassoulas, 65, a lawyer who has been a politician since 2000 and has previously served as Greece's culture minister and deputy defence minister. Accepting the nomination last month, Tassoulas called it a 'paramount honour and responsibility'.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Greece's new president is a leading advocate of bringing home the Parthenon sculptures from Britain
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek lawmakers on Wednesday elected as president a former parliamentary speaker and leading advocate for the return of the disputed Parthenon sculptures from the British Museum in London. Constantine Tassoulas, 65, was elected with 160 votes in the 300-member parliament in the fourth round of voting for the largely ceremonial post. He takes over from Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the first woman to serve as Greece's head of state, who was not nominated for a second five-year term. Speaking shortly after the results were formally announced, Tassoulas said his election was 'a supreme honor for me, but above all a precious responsibility.' A lawyer by trade, Tassoulas is also a member of the governing center-right New Democracy party and served as culture minister a decade ago, helping reinvigorate Greece's campaign to reclaim the 2,500-year-old Parthenon sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles. During his tenure as culture minister, he hosted lawyer Amal Clooney in Athens, who lent her support to the Greek bid for the sculptures' return. Clooney, the wife of actor George Clooney, helped raise international awareness of the campaign. The sculptures were removed from the Acropolis in Athens by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 1800s and have since been kept in the British Museum. The Greek government contends their removal was illegal and has long sought their return, seeking to reunite them with other Parthenon artifacts displayed in a museum in the Greek capital. Greek officials believe the return of the sculptures is more likely now due to the U.K. Labour government's perceived openness to loan agreements. Ongoing discussions on a potential arrangement would likely include an offer to facilitate rotating exhibitions of ancient Greek artifacts at the British Museum. The Associated Press
