Greece to Hold Snap Elections After EU Vote

The Hellenic Parliament, Syntagma Square. Photo © Maria Theofanopoulou

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Sunday night called a snap election following his party’s defeat to the conservative New Democracy in the European Parliament elections.

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras Photo source: @atsipras / twitter

According to provisional results, ruling party Syriza appeared to be behind the opposition New Democracy party by some nine points.

“The election outcome is not up to our expectations,” left-wing Syriza’s leader said, adding that the result was something he could not ignore.

Elections are expected to be held on July 7. Tsipras’ mandate was originally to end in October.

On his part, New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that through the elections, the Greek people sent a strong message. “The people have withdrawn their confidence,” he said.

Source: Greek Ministry of Interior

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Photo source: @kmitsotakis / twitter

Moreover, according to early results, Greek voters were shown turning away from the Syriza party in the first round of municipal and regional government polls also held on Sunday in Greece.

In both Athens and Thessaloniki, New Democracy’s candidates Kostas Bakoyannis and Nikos Tachiaos were in the lead.

In Attica, New Democracy’s Giorgos Patoulis is in the lead for regional governor, far ahead of Syriza’s Rena Dourou; and in Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas was shown with over 60 percent of the vote.

The second round of local and regional elections in Greece will take place next Sunday, June 2.

“Following the second round of local elections, I will ask the president to immediately call national elections,” Syriza’s Tsipras said in his televised address late Sunday.

For updates on the results of the elections held in Greece, press here.