Why hold a third election in August?

Two voters cast their ballots at a polling station in Athens on May 21. The threat of a third ballot has been suggested by Kyriakos Mitsotakis and other members of his conservative New Democracy party. [AP]

"We lack a culture of collaboration." Unfortunately, this phrase is repeated in Greece as an unquestionable truth. And since we ostensibly lack this culture, we find ourselves resorting to holding elections repeatedly until we can establish a majority government.

In the midst of summer, with people dressed in swimsuits and sunscreen, voters have return to the ballot boxes until the top vote-getting party secures more than 151 seats. The threat of a third ballot was suggested by New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, while conservative heavyweight Adonis Georgiadis made it clearer by stating, "Around mid-August" we will have new elections. The strategy is evident: Citizens who don't want a third election will reluctantly turn out to cast their votes, just to get it over with. The first-placed party always benefits in this case.