A new general election has been called, two days after Prime Minister Kyriakos Misotakis‘ centre-right New Democracy party won Greece’s first national election on Sunday.
Under the constitution, the top three voted parties are awarded up to three days each to try and form a government before parliament is dissolved and a new election is called.
According to Ekathimerini, Mitsotakis swiftly ruled out seeking a coalition, opting instead for a second election that would introduce the ‘pro-majority’ system which provides outright victory.
On Tuesday, Alexis Tsipras, the main opposition leader of left-wing party SYRIZA, also rejected an invitation to try and form Greece’s next government.
PASOK leader, Nikos Androulakis, who received the third and final invitation to try and form a government, would have been unable to put forward a viable proposal without the support of the first or second party, which had already been ruled out.
For now, Greece’s President Katerina Sakellaropoulou will consult with Mitsotakis, Tsipras and Androulakis on the possibility of a commonly-agreed caretaker government to organise the forthcoming election. If that effort fails, a top judge will be appointed caretaker prime minister.
The date of the next election is expected to be on June 25 or as early as July 2.
READ MORE: Here’s how Greeks in Australia voted during Greece’s national elections
Source: Ekathimerini
