Greek PM Eyes Surprise Presidential Pick as Clock Ticks

The Christmas holidays are over, and the Greek government is back to business. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis returns to the Maximos Mansion today for meetings with his associates after short trips to Chania and Milan.

The first "morning coffee" meeting of 2025—the informal daily meeting of key advisors—will take place today. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Mr. Mitsotakis will be in Cairo for the Greece-Cyprus-Egypt trilateral meeting. This meeting is considered extremely critical due to the developments in Syria, with Turkey aiming to play an expanded role in the region. Erdogan government ministers have even pre-announced a maritime boundary delimitation agreement with Syria, although the new Damascus regime is still in an exploratory phase.

In this context, Mr. Mitsotakis's instructions to his ministers are clear: the holiday is over, and it's time to focus on the policy priorities outlined in the "blue folders"—documents outlining key policy objectives—they received at the last cabinet meeting of the year, before Christmas. The Prime Minister expects them to move quickly on these priorities.

The new year is crucial for the government, which has begun to find its footing beyond the daily management of crises. Mr. Mitsotakis's goal is to produce tangible political results that resonate with the citizens. The first cabinet meeting of 2025 will convene on Friday, where Mr. Mitsotakis is expected to give a more detailed outline of the new year's agenda.

Decisions on the Presidency

Back in Athens, another crucial decision awaits the Prime Minister: the selection of the next President of the Republic. With the arrival of the new year, the time for choosing a candidate is running out. Despite numerous names circulating in the public sphere, sources suggest that until recently, Mr. Mitsotakis had not settled on a nominee. The Prime Minister may announce his intentions as early as next week, possibly through a televised address, as he did in 2020 when he nominated Katerina Sakellaropoulou for the highest state office.

According to protothema.gr, Mr. Mitsotakis is also considering an unconventional choice, beyond the individuals mentioned so far in public discourse. It's generally accepted that all options have advantages and disadvantages, depending on the political objective. Furthermore, the Prime Minister tends to favor unexpected solutions. Experience has often shown that those whose names circulate widely for key positions end up being bypassed.

Time is limited, however, as the parliamentary procedures must begin by February 12 at the latest, one month before the formal end of the current President's term. Therefore, if Mr. Mitsotakis chooses a less prominent candidate, that person must be identified, vetted, and the necessary contacts made quickly.

The scenarios of a second term for Ms. Sakellaropoulou and the candidacies of Evangelos Venizelos, Lucas Papademos, and Kostas Tasoulas, among others, are now considered less likely. Central Bank Governor Yannis Stournaras has publicly stated his lack of interest in the position, while a nomination for Lina Mendoni is unlikely given her current role as a government minister.

Source: protothema.