Greek Conservative Leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis Claims ‘Strong Mandate’ in Second Election Victory

Greek conservative leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis has emerged victorious once again in the second election in a month, securing a majority for his New Democracy party (ND). With almost 23 points ahead of his centre-left rival Syriza, Mitsotakis declared that he now has a “strong mandate” to accelerate the pace of change in Greece. The ND party won 40.5% of the vote, and Mitsotakis proclaimed that ND is now the most powerful centre-right party in Europe.

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 that promised lower taxes and improved public health. 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. However, the disaster had little impact on the campaign, as Greeks prioritized maintaining economic stability.

With the extent of his victory becoming clear, Mitsotakis expressed his gratitude to the people, stating that they have given his party a safe majority. He emphasized that major reforms will be implemented swiftly. In the previous election, ND fell just short of a majority in the parliament, prompting Mitsotakis to call for new elections in order to form a stable, single-party government. Under Greek rules for a second election, the largest party is awarded a bonus of between 20 and 50 seats. With over 40% of the vote, ND won all 50 bonus seats.

Mitsotakis acknowledged that he cannot promise miracles, but he outlined the high goals of his party, including transforming Greece with a better public health service and education. On the other hand, former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s Syriza party suffered a significant defeat in both elections, with less than 18% of the vote in the second round. Tsipras dismissed speculation about his resignation, stating that it is a decision for his party members to make.

Another notable aspect of the election was the success of the newly created far-right Spartans party, which secured almost 4.7% of the vote, surpassing the 3% threshold to enter parliament. The Spartans emerged as a political force after the Supreme Court banned another far-right party, the Greeks, and its jailed founder, Ilias Kasidiaris, threw his support behind the Spartans. Kasidiaris was previously the spokesman for the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn, which was banned as a criminal organization.

The victory of Kyriakos Mitsotakis over Alexis Tsipras is a rarity in Greek politics, as few parties manage to increase their share after a first term in office. Mitsotakis also succeeded in attracting more young voters compared to his rival. The fragmentation of the left-wing vote, with Socialist PASOK and the Communist KKE securing significant percentages, contributed to the success of the ND party. However, voter turnout dropped by eight points from the first election to less than 53%.

Mitsotakis has established a reputation as a resilient leader, navigating through various crises, including a rail disaster and a wire-tapping scandal that led to the downfall of the intelligence chief and his own nephew, who served as the prime minister’s chief of staff. The migrant boat tragedy occurred while Greece was under a caretaker government. Since the migrant crisis, the majority of Greek voters have shifted towards stricter and more conservative policies, perceiving the migration issue as a threat to national sovereignty.

Overall, Mitsotakis’s victory in the second election has provided him with a strong mandate to implement his vision for Greece, focusing on economic stability, lower taxes, and improved public services.

How did Kyriakos Mitsotakis secure a majority for his New Democracy party in the second election in a month?

Greek conservative leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis has emerged victorious once again in the second election in a month, securing a majority for his New Democracy party (ND). Mitsotakis declared that he now has a “strong mandate” to accelerate the pace of change in Greece, with the ND party winning 40.5% of the vote.

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 that promised lower taxes and improved public health. The tragic migrant boat incident off the coast of Greece, in which approximately 500 people are believed to have died, had little impact on the campaign as Greeks prioritized economic stability.

Expressing gratitude to the people for their support, Mitsotakis emphasized that major reforms will be swiftly implemented. In the previous election, ND fell just short of a majority in the parliament, leading to the call for new elections to form a stable, single-party government. Under Greek rules, the largest party is awarded a bonus of between 20 and 50 seats in a second election. With over 40% of the vote, ND won all 50 bonus seats.

Mitsotakis acknowledged that while he cannot promise miracles, his party has high goals for transforming Greece with a better public health service and education. On the other hand, former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s Syriza party suffered a significant defeat in both elections, receiving less than 18% of the vote.