(Athens) The conservatives of Kyriakos Mitsotakis won an absolute majority in the legislative elections on Sunday in Greece, which will allow him to begin a new term as Prime Minister.
New Democracy (ND), in power from 2019 to the end of May, obtained 40.55% of the vote, well over double that of its main opponent, the leftist Syriza of Alexis Tsipras, according to results covering 97% of the votes. polling stations.
Syriza, which already suffered a stinging setback in the first ballot five weeks ago, won only 17.84% of the vote, 2.2 points less than on May 21.
This result should ensure the right 158 seats out of the 300 in the unicameral Greek Parliament, according to analysts.
With such a score, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, from a long line of political leaders, is sure to find the prime minister’s chair that he had to give up at the end of May, before the second elections were held.
PHOTO LOUIZA VRADI, REUTERS
Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressing his supporters. Form
“The people, for the second time in a few weeks, have given us a strong mandate to move forward towards the big changes that the country needs,” welcomed the 55-year-old leader to his troops.
He promised salary increases, especially for the lowest incomes, the main concern of Greeks who suffer from the high cost of living.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis continued during his election campaign to brandish his economic record, marked by a rebound in growth – to 5.9% in 2022 – and falling unemployment after a decade of crisis.
Greece in blue
US President Joe Biden congratulated Mitsotakis on his victory, saying in a statement, “I look forward to continuing our close cooperation around shared priorities to promote regional prosperity and security. »
Emmanuel Macron also sent his congratulations to the leader of New Democracy, a “friend and partner of France”.
“Let’s continue together all the work undertaken for a stronger and more sovereign Europe”, tweeted the French president.
The victory of Mr. Mitsotakis’ camp is “a sign of political stability which is good for all of Europe”, greeted the head of Italian diplomacy Antonio Tajani on Twitter.
“All of Greece is blue! “, Launched Kyriakos Mitsotakis in front of his jubilant supporters, in reference to the color of his party.
“New Democracy is the strongest centre-right party in Europe! “, he also assured.
Four years after coming to power, New Democracy has improved its score compared to 2019 when it obtained 39.85% of the vote.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis won 40.79% of the vote on May 21. But this advance had not brought him the absolute majority required to form a government without having to forge an alliance.
He had then called for new elections, counting for that on a voting system which grants the party that came out on top a “bonus” of up to 50 seats.
Facing him, Alexis Tsipras takes another heavy defeat, after a slap five weeks ago when Syriza fell to 20.07% of the vote, a drop of more than 11.5 points compared to 2019.
ZPHOTO LOUISA GOULIAMAKI, FRANCE PRESS AGENCY
Alexis Tsipras
The question of his future at the head of the party now arises when already, after the defeat of May 21, the former Prime Minister (2015-2019) and figure of the radical left in Europe in 2015 had admitted having thought of resigning .
“It was an uphill battle […] the result is obviously negative for us,” admitted Alexis Tsipras, recognizing that “a great historical cycle has ended” for his party.
He spoke of the need for major changes in his party and called on its members to “judge us”, auguring future elections within Syriza.
By largely turning away from Syriza, the Greeks seem to be showing that they definitely want to turn the page on the years of bitter financial crisis and bailouts with drastic conditions that have considerably impoverished them.
Reappearance of the far right
However, Syriza remains the main opposition party, followed by the socialists of Pasok-Kinal, the communists KKE, and four small parties, including the “Spartans”, which created a surprise with 4.6% of the vote.
This party is supported by a former executive of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn formation, Ilias Kassidiaris, who is currently serving a 13 and a half year prison sentence.
Leaders and cadres of Golden Dawn, which first elected MPs in 2012 at the height of the Greek crisis, have been sentenced to long prison terms for murders and violence against migrants and left-wing supporters.
“The election of far-right parties including the Spartans with fascist overtones and links […] is a negative development,” said Alexis Tsipras.