Presidents of Greece

Office of the President of the Republic
Though the President of Greece is the Head of State of the Greek nation and holds the first place in the Greek Order of precedence, he holds very little power and is largely a figurehead. The Prime Minister of Greece is the active chief executive of the Greek government. The current president is Dr Karolos Papoulias.

The President of the Republic is elected for five years by the Parliament (not through direct popular vote). To be eligible for the presidency one must be at least forty years old and a descendant of a Greek father or mother. She or he can only be reelected once. In urgent cases when legislation is needed, the President of the Republic, following a Governmental proposal, issues acts of legislation (Praxeis Nomothetikou Periexomenou), again under the requirement of consequent ratification by the Parliament.

First Hellenic Republic, 1828-1833 (sometimes referred to as Governorate)
President Born-Died From-To Comments
Ioannis Kapodistrias 1776-1831 January 24, 1828 - October 9, 1831 Governor
Augustinos Kapodistrias 1778-1857 October 9, 1831 - April 9, 1832 Governor
Governing Council (until the arrival of King Otto) April 9, 1832 - February 2, 1833 No official head of state

Kingdom of Greece, 1833-1924
See List of Kings of Greece

Second Hellenic Republic, 1924-1935
President Born-Died From-To Comments
Pavlos Kountouriotis 1855-1935 March 25, 1924 - March 15, 1926
Theodoros Pangalos 1878-1952 March 15, 1926 - August 24, 1926 Military dictator
Pavlos Kountouriotis 1855-1935 August 24, 1926 - December 9, 1929
Alexandros Zaimis 1855-1936 December 9, 1929 - October 10, 1935
Georgios Kondylis 1855-1936 October, 1935 - November 25, 1935 abolished Republic, self-appointed Regent until the return of King George II

Kingdom of Greece restored, 1935-1973
See List of Kings of Greece

Military Dictatorship, 1967-1974
Head of State Born-Died From-To Comments
Georgios Zoitakis 1910-1996 December 13, 1967 - March 21, 1972 Regent, appointed by colonel Georgios Papadopoulos
Georgios Papadopoulos 1919-1999 March 21, 1972 - June 1, 1973 Regent, self-appointed
Georgios Papadopoulos 1919-1999 June 1, 1973 - November 25, 1973 President, self-appointed
General Phaedon Gizikis 1917-1999 November 25, 1973 - July 24, 1974 President, appointed by 1973 coup leader Brigadier General Dimitrios Ioannides

Third Hellenic Republic, 1974-present
President Born-Died From-To Comments
General Phaedon Gizikis 1917-1999 July 24, 1974 - December 18, 1974 Junta-appointed, retained as transitional President pro tempore for legal continuity reasons.
Michail Stasinopoulos 1903-2002 December 18, 1974 - June 19, 1975 President pro tempore, appointed by Parliament, first (short term) elected President (by Parliamentary vote) of the Third Republic
Constantine Tsatsos 1899-1987 June 19, 1975 - May 15, 1980 Elected by parliament, one full (five year) term
Constantine Karamanlis 1907-1998 May 15, 1980 - March 10, 1985 First elected President of the third Republic, one term, resigned
Ioannis Alevras 1912-1995 March 10, 1985 - March 30, 1985 Speaker of the Parliament, President pro tempore
Christos Sartzetakis 1929- March 30, 1985 - May 4, 1990 Elected, one term
Constantine Karamanlis 1907-1998 May 4, 1990 - March 10, 1995 Elected, one term
Kostis Stephanopoulos 1926- March 10, 1995 - March 12, 2005 Elected, two terms
Karolos Papoulias 1929- March 12, 2005 - March 13, 2010 Elected, incumbent