According to partial results, which relate to 85% of the polling stations, the party Nea Dimokratia, which has been in power for four years, is clearly ahead of the left-wing Syriza of former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
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Posted on 05/21/2023 20:15 Updated on 05/21/2023 23:57
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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will vote in the May 21, 2023 general election. (MENELAUS MYRILLAS / SOOC / AFP)
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ right-wing party won a landslide victory in Greece’s general elections on Sunday May 21, but a second ballot will be necessary to ensure a stable government. The New Democracy (ND), led by the outgoing prime minister, won 40.8% of the vote, partial results from 85% of polling stations showed. It is well ahead of the left of former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, which garnered just 20% of the vote, ahead of the socialist Pasok-Kinal party, which garnered 11.6%.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who has been in office since 2019, described his victory as “a political earthquake” and paved the way for a second round of elections that could take place in late June or early July. Which, if he confirms this performance, would allow him an absolute majority. Thanks to a different electoral system, the winning party would then get a “bonus” of up to 50 seats. According to projections from Sunday evening, his party wins 145 of the 300 seats in parliament, six seats less than the absolute majority.
Inflation and decay of public services
The decline in purchasing power and difficulties in making ends meet remain the main concerns of voters, while the population has made painful sacrifices over the past decade. Many Greeks have to make do with low wages and have lost faith in public services, which have been reduced to a minimum after drastic weight-loss diets, especially in hospitals.
The country still suffers from a public debt of more than 170% of its GDP. After all, inflation was close to 10% last year, adding to the difficulties of the population.
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