The President is elected by the Parliament for a five year term, with a maximum of two terms. Upon expiration of the presidential term, the Parliament votes to elect a new President. In the first two votes a ⅔ majority (200 votes) is required. In the third and final vote 3/5 of the Parliament (180 votes) are required. If the third vote is also ineffective, the Parliament is dissolved and the last President proclaims parliamentary elections within 30 days. The new Parliament immediately repeats the vote for the President of the Republic and 3/5 of the votes are required in the first ballot, an absolute majority (151 MPs) in the second and a simple majority in the third and final vote. The system is designed to promote consensus presidential candidates among the main political parties.
The President of the Republic has the power to declare war, to grand pardon and to conclude agreements of peace, alliance, and participation in international organizations. Upon the request of the Government, a simple parliamentary majority is required to validate such actions or agreements. In special cases an absolute majority or a 3/5 majority may be required (e.g. the entry into the EU required a 3/5 majority). The President also has at his disposal some emergency powers, which must be signed by the relevant Minister.
The revision of the Constitution in 1986 restricted the powers of the President. Therefore the President can no longer dissolve the Parliament, dismiss the Government, suspend articles of the Constitution or declare a state of siege, without the corresponding signature of the Prime Minister or the respective minister. To call a referendum he needs the approval of Parliament.
