Off the wire
• Belarusian FM cautiously optimistic about settlement of Ukraine crisis  • (Recast) Roundup: Taliban attack leaves 14 dead in Afghanistan  • Roundup: Taliban attack leaves 14 dead  • Belarusian president calls for improvement of economic ties with Iran  • Big cake for Chinese soccer before Spring Festival  • U.S. stocks open lower on Greece's debt  • 1st LD: Ukraine says insurgents seize soldiers, part of flashpoint town  • Philippine justifies possible U.S. assistance in S. Philippine clash  • AU to observe elections in the Union of Comoros  • 2nd LD Writethru:Multiple blasts rock northeast Nigerian town  
You are here: 　 Home

1st LD Writethru: Greek PM names conservative minister as presidential candidate

Xinhua, February 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Greece's conservative former Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos was named on Tuesday by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras as his party's candidate for the President of Greece.

The long awaited announcement was made in a televised address to his parliamentary group after several delays due to the ongoing negotiations between the new Left-led government and international creditors on future cooperation to manage the Greek debt crisis.

"Prokopis Pavlopoulos can be the President who will be able to decisively help people and the country with his status," Tsipras said on Tuesday.

Pavlopoulos who served as Interior Minister in the period of 2004-2009 was presented by the Premier as a respected figure who could unite Greeks regardless of ideological beliefs in a crucial period when national unity is needed to move forward. Endit