Prokopis Pavlopoulos nominated as candidate for Greek president

Prokopis Pavlopoulos, a centre-right moderate, will be the government's candidate for president, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said.

Speaking to SYRIZA's parliamentary group on Tuesday, Tsipras said the decision to nominate the former conservative Interior Minister reflected the need for political and social consensus.

It was Greece's failure to elect a president in December that triggered the snap poll the following month that brought the left-wing party to power.