The Greek Parliament was unable to elect a new president in the second of four rounds of voting.
The candidate from the conservative government, Konstantinos Tasoulas, received 160 votes, which is 40 votes short of the 200 needed to win. He received the same number of votes in the first round on January 25.
Loukia Katseli, supported by the left-wing parties SYRIZA and the New Left, received 40 votes, while Tasos Giannitsis, backed by the main opposition party PASOK, garnered 34 votes. Kostas Kyriakou, the candidate from the right-wing party “Niki,” received 14 votes.
The third round of voting, where the winner must secure 180 votes, is scheduled for Thursday, February 6.
If no candidate reaches this threshold, the requirement will drop to 151 votes in the fourth and final round, which will take place five days later.
Tasoulas, former Speaker of the House and a member of Parliament from “New Democracy,” is expected to secure the presidency in the final round, as “New Democracy” holds a majority with 156 seats in the 300-seat Parliament.
The presidential position in Greece is largely ceremonial, with limited political powers.
