The European Parliament elections concluded with none of the big three parties reaching their stated goals, although all may try to spin a positive narrative from the results.
What is beyond dispute is the very low turnout: at nearly 90% of precincts reporting, it is currently 40.55%, nearly 18 percentage points below that of the last European election, in May 2019 (58.69%).
The European Parliament elections concluded with a clear victory for New Democracy (ND) and a second-place hold for SYRIZA, amidst the ongoing decline of PASOK in the Attica region, according to official results.
Far-right parties significantly increased their share of the vote, even as one of them, the Spartiates (Spartans), was barred from contesting the election.
Elliniki Lysi is seen getting 9.5% of the vote, up from 4.18% in 2019, the ultra-religious Niki was on 4.4% and Foni tis Logikis (3.05%) is just above the threshold required to elect an MEP. The Communist Party (9.3% from 5.35% in 2019) also declared itself satisfied, even though it lost the fourth place. SYRIZA dissidents New Left were below 3% and were talking about a “crisis in the political system.”
Based on the final estimation of the election results provided by Singular Logic’s CEO, Dimitris Bakakos, covering 90% of the precincts nationwide, a total of 7 parties will secure seats in the European Parliament.
According to the final estimation of the Ministry of Interior for the European Parliament election results:
- Nea Dimokratia (ND): 27.86%
- SYRIZA: 14.93%
- PASOK: 12.9%
- Elliniki Lysi: 9.5%
- KKE: 9.3%
- Niki: 4.4%
- Pleusi Elefherias: 3.4%
Mr Bakakos emphasised that postal votes could potentially alter the percentages, leading to a change in positions between the Communist Party (KKE) and Elliniki Lysi.
Mitsotakis: “We did not reach our goal“
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Sunday admitted that the ruling Conservatives fell short of the target set by himself before the European Elections, citing a record abstention and protest vote as possible causes.
In the last exit poll published by the Ministry of Interior, New Democracy is seen securing 27.9% of the vote, five percentage points below the intended 33%.
“I will not hide the truth. Our party did not reach the goal we had set. Nor am I interested in arguments such as that the difference with the second party is the biggest in the history of the European elections. We knew from the beginning that this election would be very difficult. Citizens who supported us in 2023 knew that now they were not electing a government and, perhaps faced this battle differently,” he said in a recorded message late Sunday night.
“There were also many voters who wanted to protest about issues that concern their daily lives, mainly inflation…I hear their voice and their demand and I hear it loud. ‘We trust you, but try harder.’ And that’s what we’re going to do,” he added.
“These elections are the starting point of a new path towards 2027,” he said and pledged to focus on everyday issues affecting Greeks.
Source: Ekathimerini
