Mitsotakis confirmed in office: Conservatives win elections in Greece

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Based on more than 96 percent of the votes counted, she scored 40.6 percent on Sunday – the same result as in the previous vote in May. The largest opposition party, the left-wing Syriza under Alexis Tsipras, came out with 17.8 percent. In May, she had won 20 percent of the vote.

“Today we celebrate, but tomorrow we roll up our sleeves,” Mitsotakis promised party supporters in Athens in the evening. With this election result, his Nea Dimokratia is the strongest people’s party in Europe. “It’s a big mandate to do whatever it takes,” he said. He listed three of his main concerns: he wanted more growth, which would lead to higher wages. In addition, as announced during the election campaign, he will turn the ailing health system upside down. And he will continue to work on the modernization and digitization of the state, he promised.

Because the strongest party will receive at least 20 extra seats in the 300-member parliament in these elections, the Conservatives can form the future government with a majority of around 160 seats, according to electoral law. The election is the second vote in five weeks: after the Conservatives had been in office for four years since 2019, parliamentary elections were already held in Greece in May. However, there was no coalition and therefore no government, so new elections had to be held.

Despite the electoral success, Mitsotakis cannot rest on his laurels. At home, he must tackle the health system – and also prove that he is not only business-friendly, but that the country’s progress is also worthwhile for the people. After the severe financial crisis in the country, the Greeks are still among the poorest citizens in Europe. And finally, it is important to come to terms with re-elected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on foreign policy. He had repeatedly threatened the Greeks militarily in recent years.

The result was sobering for opposition leader Alexis Tsipras. “We suffered a serious electoral defeat,” he admitted. The party now needs the necessary cuts. Party members are asked to evaluate the work of the entire leadership and realign themselves under these difficult circumstances. “It goes without saying that I am the first to face the judgment of the party members.”

After five electoral defeats, Tsipras is likely to face difficult times. There were already calls for his resignation following the party’s dramatic slump in May’s elections. However, Syriza is strongly aligned with Tsipras. Although there are well-known, popular politicians in their ranks, none of them have officially prepared them for leadership roles.

In addition to ND and Syriza, there are also the social-democratic Pasok with 11.9 percent (May: 11.5 percent), the Greek Communist Party KKE with 7.7 percent and the radical right-wing national party Spartiaten (Spartians) with 4.7 percent. percent in parliament. The right-wing populist party Elliniki Lisi also won 4.5 percent in parliament. In addition, the ultra-Orthodox party Niki will be represented in parliament with 3.7 percent. The radical-left small party Plefsi Eleftherias is also represented with 3.2 percent (May: 2.9 percent). The Mera25 party of former left-wing finance minister Giannis Varoufakis remained excluded from parliament with 2.5 percent (May: 2.6 percent).

(SDA)

Source: Blick