Former conservative minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos was elected by Greece’s Parliament on Wednesday evening as the new president of the republic, with 233 deputies voting in favor.

32 MPs voted “present”, while his opponent Nikos Alivizatos garnered the support of 30 MPs.

Pavlopoulos, a long-time New Democracy politician and attorney by training, was nominated by the ruling leftist SYRIZA party, and was backed by the junior coalition party as well as ND.

The post of Greek president entails a wholly ceremonial role in the country’s political system.

He replaces outgoing President Karolos Papoulias.