The centre-right Greek New Democracy party won a landslide victory in Greece’s national elections, cementing the country’s leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ position as he promised to be a prime minister “for all Greeks”.
The win on June 25 marks something of a reward for his and the party’s promotion of fiscally prudent policies and of taking a stronger stance on migration.
“In a loud and mature way, citizens have definitively closed a traumatic cycle of lies and toxicity that held back the country and divided society,” Mitsotakis said, apparently referring to the Greek opposition.
With more than 40 per cent of the vote, the New Democracy party secured an outright majority under Greece’s electoral system and now holds 158 out of the 300 seats. That improved the party’s position on the vote held in May, where it did not win a majority.
Under Mitsotakis, the Greek economy grew almost six per cent in 2022, outscoring most of Europe. Unemployment has dropped and investment has grown. The Conservative government recently cut more than 50 domestic taxes and also digitised what had become an outdated bureaucratic system.
“I will faithfully carry out my duty, without tolerating any arrogance or conceited behaviour,” Mitsotakis said after Sunday’s vote. He has said he aims to raise salaries in Greece and reduce inequality. He also wants to improve infrastructure and provide better and more affordable public healthcare.
Mitsotakis gained increased popularity by enforcing border control and stemming the flow of migrants into Greece. The migration issue was brought into sharp focus after a migrant boat sank off the Greek coast earlier this month, leaving hundreds dead. Mitsotakis laid the blame for the tragedy at the feet of human smugglers who had organised the fatal trip but also questioned the role of the coastguards.
Greek voters did not find policies put forward by the Left convincing and the Syriza party received a beating in the elections. It managed just over 17 per cent, which was considerably lower than in the last national vote. Syrizia lost 23 seats on Sunday and now only has 48.
The Socialist PASOK party, which had ruled Greece for decades until a few years ago, also took a hammering, finishing third with about 10 per cent and 32 seats. The Communist KKE party lost six seats. The only upside for the Left was Course of Freedom, a populist, anti-establishment party sometimes termed ‘nationalist Left’, which won eight seats.
Mitsotakis stated that New Democracy has set major targets for its second term, which he believes can transform Greece and bring it to the forefront in Europe.
Three new hard-right parties did relatively well, surprising many observers. Of them, the Spartans won 12 seats. The party describes itself as a supporter of the “popular patriotic Right”, the “homeland–religion–family” tradition and of “sane Greek nationalism”.
The Greek Solution party, meanwhile, won a similar number. It has a more religious focus and is more strongly nationalistic, wanting to see increasingly tough action against illegal immigration. It also wants to shut down NGOs operating in Greece, describing them as “trafficking companies”.
The Democratic Patriotic Movement – Victory, the Conservative party that particularly emphasises Orthodox Christian traditions, won 10 seats.
Greece, national parliament election today:
Seats won, 98.6% counted
ND-EPP: 158 (+12)
SYRIZA-LEFT: 48 (-23)
PASOK KINAL-S&D: 32 (-9)
KKE-NI: 20 (-6)
EL-ECR: 12 (-4)
…+/- vs. May 2023 election
Majority = 151 seats
➤ https://t.co/lsFdXOICtg #ekloges #Ekloges2023 pic.twitter.com/TfeYCRQe9J
— Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) June 25, 2023
