Elections: Attica Welcomes New Governor, ND Sees Triumph in Most Regions

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with Attica’s new governor, Nikos Hardalias. Photo source: Region of Arrica

Greece’s ruling New Democracy party saw triumph in the first round of local and regional elections on Sunday, winning six out of 13 regions, including the country’s most populous, Attica.

“The citizens reaffirmed their trust in ruling New Democracy (ND) party and its choices,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said following the results of the elections.

Media reports dubbed the regional elections as a “political test” for the government of Mitsotakis who won a second term in office in this summer’s general elections.

A total of seven regions in Greece saw final outcomes with candidates achieving 43 percent of more of the vote. Greece’s other six regions will head to a runoff vote next Sunday.

The winners of yesterday’s elections are the following:

– Nikos Hardalias, former Deputy National Defence Minister, won the position of regional governor for Attica with 46.45 peercent of votes. He was supported by New Democracy.

– Apostolos Tzitzikostas once again secured his position as regional governor for Central Macedonia with over 60 percent of votes. He was supported by New Democracy.

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, governor for Central Macedonia, after his win. Photo source: Region of Central Macedonia

– Nektarios Farmakis retained his position as regional governor for Western Greece with over 60 percent of votes. He was supported by New Democracy.

– Alexandros Karchimanis retained his position as regional governor for Epirus with 54,75 percent of votes. He was supported by New Democracy.

– George Hatzimarkos kept his position as regional governor of South Aegean Region with some 66 percent of votes. He was supported by New Democracy.

– Fanis Spanos is once again regional governor of Central Greece with 48 percent of votes. He was supported by New Democracy.

– Stavros Arnaoutakis kept his position as regional governor of Crete securing almost 70 percent of votes. He was supported by PASOK.

Runoff elections

The following six regions will head to runoff elections next Sunday, September 15: Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, North Aegean, Western Macedonia, Thessaly, Ionian Islands and the Peloponnese.

Μunicipalities

The incumbent mayor of Athens Kostas Bakoyannis will run in the second round of elections next Sunday. Photo source: Municipality of Athens

Of the total 331 municipalities in Greece, some 85, including Athens and Thessaloniki, are heading to runoff elections next Sunday.

Greek municipalities that saw total outcomes include Piraeus (Giannis Moralis – 69 percent of votes), Heraklion, Crete (Alexis Kalokerinos – alomst 50 percent of votes), Larissa (Thanasis Mamakos – over 50 percent of votes), Volos (Achilleas Beos – 56,7 percent of votes) and Rhodes (Antonis Kambourakis – over 44.5 percent of votes).

In the Greek capital Athens, the incumbent mayor, Kostas Bakoyannis, gathered 41.3 percent of the votes and next Sunday will face Haris Doukas (PASOK) who gathered 14.3 percent in the first round.

Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, will also see a second round of elections next Sunday between incumbent mayor Konstantinos Zervas (27.5 percent of votes in first round) and Stelios Angeloudis (26.2 percent of votes), who is supported by PASOK.