As Greece’s parliamentary election gets underway, the country is bracing itself for a potentially tumultuous period following the first election since its economy ceased to be subject to strict international supervision. The two main contenders, conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and left-wing Syriza party leader Alexis Tsipras, have been neck-and-neck in opinion polls, with Mitsotakis holding a slight edge. However, the newly introduced system of proportional representation ensures that whoever wins will require coalition partners to form a government.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Via Kyriakos Mitsotakis/Twitter)
The winner will have three days to negotiate with smaller parties, but deep divisions between the main contenders and smaller parties make a coalition unlikely, leading to a second election on July 2, potentially under a new electoral law that makes it easier for a winning party to form a government. The socialist Pasok party, once dominant but now polling at around 10%, is expected to play a key role in any coalition talks. Its leader, Nikos Androulakis, was embroiled in a wiretapping scandal, leading to strained relationships with both main parties, making it unlikely for them to form a coalition with either. As a result, a second election becomes increasingly likely, leaving Greece in a state of uncertainty and potentially prolonging the formation of a stable government.
