Athens, Greece – In a historic move, Greek lawmakers have elected Constantine Tassoulas, a former parliament speaker and a leading advocate for the return of the disputed Parthenon sculptures from the British Museum, as the country’s new president.
Tassoulas, a 65-year-old lawyer and a member of the governing center-right New Democracy party, was elected with 160 votes in the 300-member parliament after a fourth round of voting. He succeeds 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 vote, Tassoulas expressed his gratitude, saying, “This is a supreme honor for me but above all a precious responsibility.”
During his tenure as culture minister a decade ago, Tassoulas played a pivotal role in reinvigorating Greece’s campaign to reclaim the 2,500-year-old Parthenon sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles. He even hosted lawyer Amal Clooney in Athens, who lent her support to the country’s bid for the sculptures’ return, helping raise international awareness of the issue.
The Greek government has long contended that the removal of the sculptures by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 1800s was illegal and has been actively seeking their return, aiming to reunite them with other Parthenon artifacts displayed in a museum in the Greek capital.
With the UK’s Labour government perceived as more open to loan agreements, Greek officials believe the return of the sculptures is more likely now. Ongoing discussions on a potential arrangement would likely include an offer to facilitate rotating exhibitions of ancient Greek artifacts at the British Museum.
Tassoulas’ election as the new Greek president is seen as a significant step in the country’s continuing efforts to reclaim its cultural heritage and reunite the Parthenon sculptures, a symbol of Greece’s rich history and identity.