Prokopis Pavlopoulos

The government is believed to have lined up a series of legislative amendments to push through Parliament next week before the House is dissolved ahead of a snap general election on July 7, Kathimerini understands.

When Greece's leftist government first announced its intention to appoint a new president and prosecutor of the Supreme Court, notwithstanding the fact that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had just called a snap election, very few observers actually expected that things would get to the point they are at today.

Two prominent judicial officials were selected to top positions in the Supreme Court on Friday, following a meeting of the cabinet on Friday and despite intense criticism by the political opposition over the legitimacy of the process.

The government's bid for consensus with opposition conservatives over its intention to replace the Supreme Court's president and prosecutor before a snap election on July 7 fell by the wayside on Thursday after its proposal was turned down by New Democracy. 

Embattled Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called a cabinet meeting on Friday, which is scheduled to take place in Parliament at 1 p.m.

By George Gilson

A top advisor to main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis has warned that if the government during its last week in office appoints the new Supreme Court Chief Justice and Prosecutor after their term ends on 30 June and President Prokopis Pavlopoulos signs the necessary Presidential Decree, that could trigger a constitutional crisis.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos on Tuesday welcomed the newly appointed Archbishop of America Elpidophoros at the Presidential Mansion in Athens and congratulated him on his election.

Pavlopoulos stressed the importance of the new archbishop's mission as a pillar of support to the world's biggest community of diaspora Greeks.

Snap elections in Greece may take place on July 7 instead of June 30 as a result of nationwide university entrance exams, which will be running from June 6 to July 2.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos is on Tuesday morning to meet with the new Archbishop of America Elpidophoros.

Elpidophoros was selected earlier this month to replace Demetrios who resigned at the beginning of May. 

The decision was taken by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.

Straight on the heels of a crushing defeat for SYRIZA in the 26 May European Parliament and local elections, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has announced that on 3 June, the day after local elections run-offs, he will visit President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and request the proclamation of early elections.