Athens’ “make or break” negotiations with institutional lenders, primarily with its eurozone partners, are reportedly pushing back the date for a Parliament vote to elect a new president of the republic.

Next weekend is seen as the most probable date, when 300 MPs in Parliament cast their vote for the figurehead president.

Another unknown variable is who the ruling coalition will nominate, with current EU Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, a top conservative New Democracy cadre, former minister and one-time Athens mayor, seen as the frontrunner.

One question, especially from Avramopoulos’ political end of the spectrum, is why he would consider leaving the influential home affairs portfolio at the Commission level in order to return to Greece’s highest, yet thoroughly ceremonial post. If he left the Commission, the new SYRIZA government would nominate a replacement.