The Greek Communist Party (KKE) criticized the choice of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to propose Prokopis Pavlopoulos for President of the Hellenic Republic and announced that KKE MPs will vote “present” in tomorrow’s vote. The official announcement issued from KKE headquarters underlined the fact that the candidate has been a Minister in a previous New Democracy government and an MP of the center-right party for many years. It also said that KKE does not believe in the institution of the President of the Hellenic Republic on principle and therefore its MPs will vote “present” in tomorrow’s ballot at the Greek Parliament, meaning that they are not in favor. KKE general secretary Dimitris Koutsoumpas accused Tsipras for “paving the way for a new agreement with the European Union and creditors” and for “exploiting the agony of Greek people to get liberated from the unpopular austerity policies.” According to the statement, “Mr. Tsipras hastens to announce the first legislative policies of the government, which is a “drop in the ocean” compared to all existing policies and Memoranda” and that KKE will immediately ask for their repeal.