Roundup: Greek PM names conservative minister as presidential candidate

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.

If he will eventually be the sole candidate, he is widely expected to easily secure the 180 votes required in the first round of the elections in Greece's parliament, under the Constitution. The voting was set for Wednesday afternoon.

Pavlopoulos was expected to be backed by the coalition of the Radical Left SYRIZA party with the Right- wing Independent Greeks who jointly hold 162 seats in the 300-member strong assembly, as well as his own party, the New Democracy.

However his nomination was not welcomed by all SYRIZA deputies, according to media reports, because he has supported in the past the bailout the new government strongly rejects.

"We send a clear message to Europe. Greece is here fighting to stand on its feet and exit the trap of austerity and the trap of debt. I am sure we will make it," Tsipras said during his address on Tuesday.

"Greek democracy does not blackmail and does not get blackmailed... We do not hold dialogue under the threats of ultimatums. We negotiate as equal partners," the defiant Greek leader added, referring to Monday's deadlock at the euro group meeting.

Talks over the future collaboration between Greece and its international creditors ended with the issuance of an ultimatum to Athens to request by Friday the extension of the four-year bailout program which expires at the end of February until a final agreement can be discussed in coming months.

"We are not in a hurry. We do not compromise. We work hard for a decent mutually beneficial deal," Tsipras said on Tuesday, insisting that the impasse can be resolved through a political deal not by negotiations at a technocratic level.

He accused "circles within the euro zone of attempting to undermine Greece, risking the future of the entire Europe."

Over the past two decades Pavlopoulos has been a heavyweight in the New Democracy party which was ruling the country until the January 25 general elections.

The 64-year-old law Professor has served as government spokesman in the Right-led ruling coalition with the Left in 1989-1990. He was a member of the Greek parliament from 1996- 2015. He was not a candidate in the last general elections.

The term of the incumbent President Karolos Papoulias ends on March 13 and his successor, according to the Greek Constitution, must be elected by March 12 at the latest.

In case of failure in the first round of ballot, the vote will be repeated five days later. In case of a third ballot which seemed unlikely according to analysts, the President of the Republic is elected with a simple majority.

The minimum threshold under the Constitution starts from 200 votes in the first round unless the presidential elections are held shortly after the formation of a new parliament.

The previous parliament has dissolved itself before New Year's Eve under the Constitution after failing to elect Papoulias' successor.

Former EU Commissioner for Environment Stavros Dimas who was the presidential candidate of the former ruling coalition of the conservatives with the socialists did not garner the minimum votes required, as opposition parties were pressing for early general elections. Enditem