Greek president wins second term
The Greek parliament today re-elected president Karolos Papoulias to a second five-year term in office.
The former socialist foreign minister was the only candidate for the largely ceremonial post, and had the support of both the governing socialist party and the opposition conservatives.
Papoulias, 80, was re-elected with 266 votes in favour in the 300-member parliament. Thirty-two deputies voted “present,” while two were absent.
The socialists have 160 seats and the conservatives 91.
First elected to parliament in 1977, Mr Papoulias was re-elected every year until 2000, when he decided not to run.
He served three years as deputy foreign minister and four years as foreign minister when the Socialists governed from 1981 to 1989. He again served as foreign minister from 1993 to 1996, and served as deputy defence minister during a 1989-1990 coalition government.
