Greece again for new elections

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After his success in Athens on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to a clear mandate from the voters. After almost all votes were counted, his Nea Dimokratia (ND) party had about 40.8 percent – an increase of about one percentage point compared to the 2019 election. was the sole ruling party, should now form a coalition.

However, Mitsotakis ruled out an alliance with other parties, so new elections are likely. “Governing alone is the only way to implement the reforms we plan and the country needs,” he said. An effective government cannot exist with uncertain parliamentary combinations and political bickering. Both lead to a dead end. Mitsotakis hinted that new elections could take place as early as next month.

Voters have recognized the progress Greece has made over the past four years under New Democracy, he said. “And they demand that we move forward even faster and with bold reforms.” It is important to make up for the lost ground that separates Greece from the other EU countries. The left-wing Syriza party of former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras suffered heavy losses: although it remained the strongest opposition party with about 20 percent, it lost more than ten points.

Parties need 48 percent

Due to a peculiarity in the electoral law of the EU and NATO country with a population of approximately 10.5 million, the conservatives have a chance to win sole power after another election. In the current elections, simple proportional representation applied: mathematically, one or more parties must collect 48 percent of the vote in order to govern. In the next election, on the other hand, the strongest party will automatically get at least 20 extra seats in parliament – ​​this would probably mean that the ND would again be alone in the government.

The third strongest force was the social democratic Pasok with about 11.6 percent (2019: 8.1 percent). The communists also made it to parliament with 7.1 percent and the right-wing populist Elliniki Lysi with 4.4 percent. The left-wing party Mera25 led by ex-finance minister Giannis Varoufakis and the ultra-conservative Niki failed at the three percent hurdle.

The conservative program was more convincing

“Political struggles have victories, but also defeats,” election loser Tsipras said late in the evening. “Our party committees will meet immediately to analyze the results.” The next elections are coming up. So you need to make changes quickly to deliver the best possible campaign.

Syriza had campaigned for votes to massively raise the welfare state, raise pensions and the minimum wage, and put more strain on the economy. But that was clearly less effective than the Conservatives’ program to further stabilize the country after the severe financial crisis of the past decade and get the economy back on track. Many voters also resent Tsipras’ rule during the country’s severe financial crisis. At that time he was forced to implement severe austerity programs. (SDA)

Source: Blick