Konstantinos Tasoulas (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Τασούλας; born 17 July 1959) is a Greek politician and lawyer who is the president-elect of Greece. He previously served as President of the Hellenic Parliament from 2019 to 2025.[1] A member of the New Democracy party, he has been an MP for Ioannina from 2000 to 2025. He also briefly served as the Minister of Culture and Sports from 2014 to 2015 during the Antonis Samaras government.
Early life
Tasoulas was born in Ioannina, Greece on 17 July 1959. He studied at the Athens Law School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, earning his law degree in 1981. He worked as a lawyer in Athens and London.[2]
Early political career
Joining the New Democracy party from early on, he served from 1981 until 1990 as special secretary of veteran politician Evangelos Averoff's office. In 1990, he was elected at the municipal council οf the Kifissia borough of Athens, of which, in 1994, he was elected mayor.[3]
In 1990, he was appointed head of the Organization of Export Support, where he served until 1993.[4]
Parliamentary career
In 2000, he was elected MP for Ioannina, a position he held through all subsequent elections continuously.[2] In 2006, he was appointed parliamentary representative of the New Democracy party, of which, in 2010, he assumed the position of General Secretary. In 2007, he served as Defense Deputy Minister, while, in the period 2014-15, as Minister for Sports and Culture.[3]
Speakership
Following the 2019 general election, Tasoulas was elected President of the Hellenic Parliament with a record of 283 votes in favor, from the government ND party, as well as the opposition parties of Syriza, KINAL, EL, and MeRA25, with the Communist Party of Greece submitting a notion of 15 "present" voters, and two abstentions (by Dimitris Tzanakopoulos and Effie Achtsioglou). It was also the first time a Speaker of the Parliament was elected by open ballot.[5]
President-elect of Greece
In January 2025, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis submitted to the Parliament for approval the candidacy of Tasoulas for the office of the Greek Presidency. Tasoulas accepted the nomination, which was met with criticism from the opposition.[6] After four rounds of voting, he was elected by the parliament on 12 February 2025, after winning the votes 160 of 300 MPs.[7][8]
Personal life
Tasoulas is married to Fani Stathopoulou and they have two children.[9]
References
- ^ "Tasoulas elected Parliament Speaker with broad, five-party backing". To Vima. 17 July 2019.
- ^ a b "Κωνσταντίνος Τασούλας" [Konstantinos Tasoulas] (in Greek). Greek Ministry of Culture. 30 April 2005. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ a b Bokas, Christos (15 January 2025). "Κωνσταντίνος Τασούλας: Από τη δημαρχία στην Κηφισιά και την 25ετή θητεία στη Βουλή, υποψήφιος Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας" [Konstantinos Tasoulas: From Kifissia mayor and 25 years in Parliament, a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic]. Proto Thema (in Greek). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ Bokas, Christos (15 January 2025). "Κ. Τασούλας: Το βιογραφικό του υποψήφιου Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας" [Konstantinos Tasoulas: The life of the candidate for the Presidency of the Republic]. Liberal (in Greek). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ "Εκλογή κ. Κωνσταντίνου Τασούλα στη θέση του Προέδρου της Βουλής" [Election of Mr.Konstantinos Tasoulas as Speaker of the Parliament]. VouliWatch (in Greek). 18 July 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ "Tasoulas' presidential nomination draws criticism from left-wing opposition". Kathimerini. Athens News Agency. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ "Greece's new president is a leading advocate of bringing home the Parthenon sculptures from Britain". AP News. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ "Konstantinos Tasoulas elected new president of Greece". Ekathimerini. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ "The experienced politician with a long career on the doorstep of the Presidency of Greece". Ellines. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
External links
Media related to Konstantinos Tasoulas at Wikimedia Commons
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
