Athens and Thessaloniki Welcome New Mayors After Runoff Local Government Elections

The new mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas.

Greece’s ruling New Democracy party lost the country’s two largest cities during the runoff local government elections on Sunday, as residents of Athens and Thessaloniki voted to change mayors.

In Athens, Haris Doukas was elected mayor of the Greek capital, winning over incumbent mayor Kostas Bakoyannis.

PASOK-supported candidate Doukas secured 55.96 percent of the vote with 64,055 votes, with Bakoyannis, backed by New Democracy, having 44.04 percent of the vote, with 50,403 votes.

“Today Athens won, the city is turning the page. I want to thank all the Athenians for the huge honor they have given me and I know the responsibility I am taking on. I want to thank those who believed in the dream and all the citizens who achieved the impossible,” Doukas said after his win.

It is noted that in the first round of the local elections, Bakoyiannis received 41.35 percent of the vote and Doukas 14.19 percent.

Bakoyannis: I am solely responsible for the outcome

Kostas Bakoyannis voting on Sunday.

Following results that confirmed Doukas’ win, Bakogannis contacted the elected mayor of Athens and congratulated him on his victory.

“I had the opportunity to thank him for a very good, substantial electoral campaign and to assure him that both my team and I are at his complete disposal, so that we can organize a cohesive and serious transition,” he said.

Referring to the result of the elections, Bakoyannis said that he was “solely responsible” for the outcome.

“I’d like to thank all Athenians for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime and allowing me to serve you. I leave the city hall as I entered, with my head held high,” he said.

Thessaloniki: Angeloudis wins by 67.34%

The new mayor of Thessaloniki, Stelios Angeloudis.

In Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, PASOK-supported Stelios Angeloudis won with 67.34 percent of the vote against incumbent mayor Konstantinos Zervas with 32.96 percent of the vote.

“We are all making history together, for a better everyday life, for greater care and action. For Thessaloniki that unites us,” Angeloudis said following his win.

Zervas: I hope Angeloudis picks up where we left off

Konstantinos Zervas voting on Sunday.

Congratulating Angeloudis, New Democracy-supported Zervas said: “I am proud that he will not start his attempt from scratch. I hope that he will pick up where we left off and move forward with all the big projects, all the projects of everyday life. We did a lot of work and it shouldn’t go to waste”.

In the first round of the local elections in Thessaloniki, Zervas had received 27.5 percent of votes in first round and Angeloudis 26.2 percent.