Conservative Leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis Secures Strong Mandate in Greek Election

Greek conservative leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis has secured a bigger win in Sunday’s election, giving his party, New Democracy, a “strong mandate” to bring about change. Mitsotakis had previously defeated his centre-left rival Syriza in May but called for new elections in order to gain enough seats to govern alone. With more than 90% of the votes counted, New Democracy was polling at 40.5%, 20 points ahead of Syriza. The election took place just 11 days after a tragic migrant boat incident off the coast of Greece, in which approximately 500 people are believed to have died. Despite the tragedy, the disaster had little impact on the campaign, as Greeks voted to maintain economic stability. Under Greek election rules, the conservatives are awarded a bonus number of seats in parliament for a second election, and with over 40% of the vote, New Democracy could receive a 50-seat bonus. Mitsotakis expressed his gratitude to the voters, stating that “major reforms will go ahead with speed.” The victory marks a rarity in Greek politics, as few parties increase their share after a first term in office. Mitsotakis is credited with successfully stabilizing and growing the Greek economy after a severe debt crisis and three international bailouts. Despite the cost-of-living crisis faced by many Greeks, voters chose to support the party promising lower taxes and improved public health. The conservative leader has also gained a reputation for effectively handling various crises, including a rail disaster and a wire-tapping scandal. The election also saw the success of the newly created far-right Spartans party, which passed the 3% vote-share threshold to enter parliament. Together with nationalist Greek Solution and ultra-conservative Niki (Victory), the hard right secured more than 30 seats. The views of most Greek voters have shifted towards stricter, more conservative policies since the migrant crisis, perceiving it as an external threat to national sovereignty.

How did the tragic migrant boat incident off the coast of Greece impact the outcome of the election?

Greek conservative leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis achieved a resounding victory in Sunday’s election, giving his party, New Democracy, a strong mandate for change. Mitsotakis, who had previously defeated his centre-left rival in May but sought new elections to secure enough seats for a majority, secured over 40% of the vote, putting his party ahead by 20 points. This win comes just days after a tragic migrant boat incident off the coast of Greece, which claimed the lives of approximately 500 people. Surprisingly, the disaster had little impact on the campaign, as Greeks prioritized economic stability. Under Greek election rules, the conservatives are granted extra seats for a second election, potentially giving New Democracy 50 additional seats in parliament. Mitsotakis expressed his gratitude to the voters and emphasized that major reforms would be implemented swiftly.

This victory is quite exceptional in Greek politics, as few parties manage to increase their share after their first term in office. Mitsotakis is credited with successfully stabilizing and growing the Greek economy following a severe debt crisis and multiple international bailouts. Despite the cost-of-living crisis faced by many Greeks, voters chose to support the party that promised lower taxes and improved public health. Mitsotakis has also gained a reputation for effectively managing various crises, including a rail disaster and a wire-tapping scandal.

The election results also saw the emergence of the newly formed far-right Spartans party, which surpassed the 3% vote-share threshold needed to enter parliament. Along with nationalist Greek Solution and ultra-conservative Niki (Victory), the hard-right parties secured over 30 seats. This shift towards stricter, more conservative policies can be attributed to the migrant crisis, which many Greeks perceive as posing a threat to national sovereignty.