sold

Published by The National Herald, March 18, 2005

Papoulias Sworn In, But Archbishop’s Role Protested

ATHENS – Karolos Papoulias, a former Greek Foreign Minister and one of the late Andreas Papandreou’s closest associates, was sworn in last Saturday, March 12, as the sixth elected President of the Hellenic Republic since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1974.

The swearing-in ceremony was not without incident, however. Members of Parliament from the leftwing Synaspismos (Coalition of the Left) Party staged a walkout protesting the fact that Mr. Papoulias would be taking his oath of office before Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, who presides over the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, in accordance with a longstanding tradition.

In addition to the walkout by Synaspismos MP’s, Main Opposition (PASOK) Deputy Theodoros Koliopanos also refused to attend the ceremony in protest of the Archbishop’s role in the ceremony, qualifying that his decision was "in no way directed against Greece’s Presidency or Mr. Papoulias."

Mr. Koliopanos, a former deputy minister of Public Works, stressed that Mr. Papoulias "would prove to be a good and worthy president, just like his predecessor, Costis Stephanopoulos," but added that "the Archbishop and other leading churchmen show no respect for the laws and the democratic governance of our country… the government and PASOK ought to have prevented the swearing-in by the Archbishop."

The remaining Socialist MP’s demonstrated their dissatisfaction with the recent Church scandals by refusing to stand when the Archbishop entered the Hellenic Parliament Chambers accompanied by members of the Holy Synod.

Fearing widespread dissent among its more anti-clerical elements, the Main Opposition was forced to issue a circular instructing all Socialist MP’s to attend Mr. Papoulias’ swearing in ceremony.

"I hope that you understand that any absence (of PASOK’s deputies) could result in various unwelcome comments and interpretations," Demetris Reppas, secretary of the PASOK’s parliamentary group, wrote to MP’s. "Your attendance will serve as a display of respect to our institutions, as well as to Karolos Papoulias personally."

Shortly before the swearing in ceremony, Synaspismos issued a written communiqué whereby it announced that its MP’s would not attend the event, rebuking Archbishop Christodoulos’ role in it, and called for the President to be sworn in at a secular ceremony led by the Parliament Speaker Anna Psarouda-Benaki. Nevertheless, in its statement, Synaspismos insisted that its decision was "by no means intended to snub Mr. Papoulias."

The 76-year-old Papoulias, one of PASOK’s oldest and most respected members, was elected by an unprecedented 279-vote majority in Parliament, after garnering support from his own party, from and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis’ ruling New Democracy party, which nominated him for the largely ceremonial post.

Mr. Karamanlis’ selection of Mr. Papoulias for the Presidency essentially guaranteed that he would be the only nominee for the position, as PASOK would have been hard-pressed to propose an alternative candidate to one of its founder’s most trusted friends and associates.

Candidates for the Presidency of Greece must secure a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat Parliament (i.e., 200 votes) to be elected, and failure by Greece’s legislative body to elect a President after three consecutive attempts results in the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of national elections.

Commenting on the honor bestowed upon him, Mr. Papoulias stated that he has inherited a "great legacy," and went onto say that he is "well aware of the fact that no one is above criticism," promising to "do my best to live up to my responsibilities in this time of crisis for our nation’s institutions and values."

Greece’s new President added that Mr. Stephanopoulos would prove a tough act to follow, as the nation’s image has been tarnished both domestically and internationally by the events of recent weeks.

All good intentions aside, however, Mr. Papoulias will have little or no say in addressing the issues which have jeopardized the standing of the country’s Church and judicial system as of late. Greece’s Presidency was stripped of nearly all its executive powers in 1986, when the PASOK government amended the constitution and transferred the President’s powers to the Prime Minister and Parliament.

Mr. Papoulias was a longtime friend and confidant of the late Socialist Prime Minister, Andreas Papandreou (and father of PASOK’s current leader, American-born George Papandreou). Mr. Papoulias served as Foreign Minister, as well as Deputy Foreign Minister, in successive Papandreou governments, most recently from 1993 to 1996, and played a leading role in strengthening Greece’s ties with its Balkan neighbors and the Arab world.

Mr. Papoulias replaces the popular Mr. Stephanopoulos and will serve a five-year term.

Shortly after leaving the Presidential Palace on Herodou Attikou, former President Stephanopoulos enjoyed his first day as a "civilian" (after serving two consecutive 5-year terms as Greece’s head of state) by going on a 16-kilometer bike ride near his holiday home outside of Patras last Sunday. Asked to comment on his successor, Mr. Stephanopoulos said he was "certain" that the former PASOK Foreign Minister had "all the necessary qualities that make a good President." But he also advised Mr. Papoulias that the as-yet unresolved crisis in the judiciary and the Church of Greece warranted the implementation of far-reaching reforms in the country’s most respected institutions, as well as the "stricter enforcement and enhancement of all applicable penalties when laws are broken."

Mr. Stephanopoulos has been widely credited with making a success of his mission. There is a general consensus among Greeks that Mr. Stephanopoulos was a "President of the People," and that he used his position to advance the cause of Hellenism throughout the world.

Of the 300 trips abroad which he made during his ten years in office, 80 were official state visits, and in that time, he managed to visit Greek communities in almost every corner of the globe. He also made a conscious effort to reach even the most remote villages and islands in Greece to celebrate national holidays with the local populace.

Just hours before leaving his office, Mr. Stephanopoulos received Prime Minister Karamanlis, who was accompanied by Minister of State Theodoros Roussopoulos. Mr. Karamanlis presented the outgoing President with a rare collection of poems by Kavafy. "Your journey to Ithaca isn’t over yet," the Premier told the outgoing President.

"That may be true in your case, Mr. Karamanlis, but for me it is," Mr. Stephanopoulos replied.



Volume 7 Number 12 - Tuesday, March 22nd, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY