Greece elects first-ever female president following parliamentary vote

She will serve for five years starting on March 13, when the incumbent president, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, will vacate the post following the end of his term.

Athens: Greece's Parliament elected Katerina Sakellaropoulou, former head of the State Council, as the country's first female president on Wednesday.

Sakellaropoulou's candidacy was backed by 261 lawmakers out of 300, including by the members of the ruling New Democracy Party.

She will serve for five years starting on March 13, when the incumbent president, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, will vacate the post following the end of his term.

In Greece, the president has a largely ceremonial role and limited political power.