Socialism in Greece

Pollsters claim they did detect the trends that led to New Democracy's triumph over SYRIZA in Sunday's elections, but avoided publishing the results because of the "severe criticism" they were subjected to by main opposition SYRIZA.

SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras said on Monday that he was not "giving up the fight" after his party's big defeat in Sunday's elections.

The main opposition will focus on winning back some ground in the next electoral battle set for June 25, after the party suffered a crushing defeat on Sunday's general election, according to SYRIZA sources on Monday.

Greek Prime Minister and New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis greets supporters after announcing the first results of the Greek elections at the party's HQ in Athens, 21 May 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/GEORGE VITSARAS

Kostas A. Karamanlis, who resigned as transport minister following the tragic train collision in Tempe in February, appears to be on track for re-election as an MP in Serres, northern Greece.

According to the latest data from the Interior Ministry, with the majority of votes counted, New Democracy is leading in Serres, a five-seat constituency, with just under 47 percent of the vote.

According to Wolfango Piccoli, co-president at financial advisory firm Teneo, Sunday's election result had a "devastating" impact on the SYRIZA leftist opposition, while leaving New Democracy in a dominant position with limited scrutiny.

"It is a devastating outcome for the opposition, especially for SYRIZA," Piccoli told news website Politico.

With a voter turnout of over 60 percent, the center-right "New Democracy" took nearly 41 percent of the Greek vote. With more than 20 more than its main opponent - SYRIZA, which is losing a lot of its voters.
The leader of the left party, Alexis Tsipras, has conceded defeat:

The participation rate of overseas residents in the 2023 elections has reached 79.6%, according to official data. 

Out of a total of 22,857 registered voters in the special electoral rolls for overseas residents, 18,203 cast their votes, while 4,654 abstained.

Greek Prime Minister and leader of New Democracy, Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R), enters his party's offices , 21 May 2023. Photo EPA-EFE/GEORGE VITSARAS

After 77.27 per cent of the total votes were counted, Kyriakos Mitsotakis's New Democracy won 40.83 per cent of the votes, almost twice as much as Alexis Tsipras's SYRIZA, which won 20.10 per cent.

Greece's ruling New Democracy party was set for a crushing victory in a parliamentary election on Sunday, early results showed, defeating the opposition Syriza but likely to fall below the threshold to form a government on its own.