Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has secured a resounding victory in the national election held on Sunday, signaling continuity for his investment-friendly policies and the country’s economic recovery. Mitsotakis’s center-right New Democracy party received nearly 41% of the vote, while the leftist Syriza party led by former premier Alexis Tsipras obtained about 20%. Although Mitsotakis fell short of forming a government on his own, he is expected to opt for another ballot in approximately a month, rather than attempting to form a coalition. The top parties have a limited timeframe to explore coalition possibilities, but the leaders have already ruled out working with each other, and Mitsotakis seems to have a clear path to a decisive victory if a second vote takes place.
The Greek Prime Minister described his party’s triumph as a “political earthquake” and hinted at seeking a new ballot to obtain an absolute majority, which would enable his party to govern independently. Mitsotakis expressed his preference for a strong government with a four-year horizon and emphasized the need for a definitive government solution.
The election outcome represents a significant setback for Alexis Tsipras and his Syriza party, with Tsipras himself acknowledging their poor performance. Tsipras, who came to power in 2015 by opposing austerity measures, eventually acceded to creditors’ demands. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou will offer Mitsotakis the opportunity to form a coalition, but it is apparent that he will decline.
