Greece: Next Steps to Presidential Elections and Beyond
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After Greece’s government announced that it would start the process of electing a new president early, here’s what the constitution says about what comes next:
* Dec. 17: Parliament’s 300 lawmakers hold the first of three possible votes to appoint the head of state. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s coalition needs a two-thirds supermajority -- equivalent to 200 lawmakers -- for its candidate, Stavros Dimas, to be elected. It has 155 lawmakers in its bloc. If it fails to do so, a second round must be held after five days.