Tsipras’ First Openly Atheist Leader for Greece
January 29, 2014 (Sourece: http://www.christianpost.com)
Alexis Tsipras, who was sworn in earlier this week as the new Prime Minister of Greece, has become his country’s first openly atheist leader. A survey noted that atheist leaders in Europe are becoming more prominent, with France and Croatia also being led by non-religious figures.
Tsipras was sworn in on Monday after his Syriza party won the elections in Greece, but he chose not to take a religious oath at the ceremony. Reuters noted that Tsipras, whose left-wing party has opposed austerity measures, broke from tradition when he decided to take a civil, rather than a biblical oath.
Quartz analyzed public statements from European leaders and identified at least two others who have also said that they are atheists — French President Francois Hollande and Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanović.
Hollande, who was raised a Roman Catholic but left the religion, said in 2002: “I have reached a point where what is clear to me is the conviction that God doesn’t exist, rather than the contrary.” He separately added that he respects all faith, but chooses not to have one.
