In Greece, the right-wing party of former Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is easily ahead in the legislative elections this Sunday, June 25, according to partial results from more than 97% of polling stations. The right-wing leader hailed a victory giving him “a strong mandate” to “transform the country”.
The ex-head of government promised “big changes” ranging from “increased wages” to “a more efficient state”. With an absolute majority, Mitsotakis will begin a new term as Prime Minister.
New Democracy (ND), in power from 2019 to the end of May, would win 40.5% of the vote ahead of Alexis Tsipras’ left-wing Syriza party, which would win 17.8% of the vote. Five to nine parties would have crossed the 3% threshold to enter the unicameral Greek Parliament, which has 300 seats.
The leader of New Democracy (ND) had ruled out building a coalition and called for new elections, counting for this on a voting system which this time grants the party that came out on top a “bonus” of up to 50 seats. .
If these estimates are confirmed, Alexis Tsipras would suffer another heavy defeat after a stinging setback five weeks ago when Syriza fell to 20.07% of the vote, a drop of more than 11.5 points compared to 2019.
The question of his future at the head of the party should now openly arise when already after the defeat of May 21, the former Prime Minister (2015-2019) and troublemaker of the radical left in Europe had admitted having thought of resigning.
Outside his polling station in Athens on Sunday, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greeks were voting “to achieve a stable and effective government” for the next four years.
Two potential obstacles could present themselves for Kyriakos Mitsotakis. On the one hand, the possible weariness of the voters, called twice to the polls in five weeks. On the other hand, the crumbling of the voices, in particular on the right of the conservatives where three small formations dispute the votes of the sympathizers of the extreme right and the nationalists.
However, the number of parties represented will have arithmetic consequences on the number of seats allocated to New Democracy. On Friday, he even raised the specter of a third ballot in August, when most Greeks take their holidays.
In recent days, Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called on the Greeks, who are keen to turn the page on the crisis, to grant him a large majority. It has also continued to brandish its economic balance sheet, marked by a rebound in growth, to 5.9% in 2022, and falling unemployment after the last decade of the crisis.
During the campaign, the 55-year-old Harvard graduate promised wage increases, especially for the lowest incomes, the main concern of Greeks who suffer from the high cost of living.
