Greece will elect a new government this Sunday. And contrary to what you initially thought, things are now getting exciting. In the end, a familiar face could lead the country again.
The most important things at a glance
They were probably the best-known Greek politician duo of recent years: Alexis Tsipras and Yanis Varoufakis. Two left-wing politicians who ruled Greece after the financial crisis – and often came into conflict with the German government at the time.
Now both are up for election again, but no longer for the same party. One of them even has a chance of winning the election.
Who are the most promising candidates?
At the moment, two parties in particular are very popular: the conservative New Democracy, which is currently in power, and the left-wing Syriza. Both can come up with prominent heads. The current prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is running for the conservatives, and for Syriza Tsipras, who led the country between 2015 and 2019 – initially in tandem with his then finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis.
The latter is also running for election as the top candidate of the left-wing small party MeRA25. Tsipras and Varoufakis broke in 2015 after just six months in office when Tsipras approved the austerity measures for the third package of euro bailouts in Greece.
The Conservatives are leading the polls with around 36 percent, the former ruling party Syriza is at 29 percent. Varoufakis’ party, on the other hand, is far behind at four percent.
The social-democratic party Pasok – the party during which the euro crisis broke out in 2010 – could also become important. The former People’s Party lost 70 percent of its voters in the subsequent election and almost disappeared into insignificance. In this election, however, she could become a kingmaker. In the polls, it is currently in third place with around ten percent.
Which topics determine the choice?
In Greece, too, prices rose significantly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Unsurprisingly, then, that issues such as the cost of living and income dominate the elections. “Voters are voting for the party they believe has the greatest competence on these issues,” says Nick Malkoutzis, founder of the Macropolis information service for Greece analyses. Mitsotakis’ New Democracy in particular is benefiting in this area, also because it steered the country through the Corona crisis lightly.
What is striking, however, is that this election differs significantly from the previous ones, says Malkoutzis. It used to be about major political decisions – left or right, pro-EU or anti-EU.
“This year’s election campaign is much more pragmatic,” says Malkoutzis. The parties have moved closer together, and the major parties are no longer discussing euro or EU membership. Malkoutzis sees a connection with the economic situation. The country has worked its way out of the financial crisis and is now seen as a positive example in the EU.
Arms shipments to Ukraine disputed
Nevertheless, there are some issues on which the opposition rubs shoulders with the government. On the one hand, there are the arms deliveries to Ukraine. Prime Minister Mitsotakis initiated this quickly and unbureaucratically, without approaching the opposition. This reacted with clear criticism. So where does Syriza stand on this issue?
Although the party was initially said to be close to Russia, this changed significantly during her time in government. “Relationships with the United States have never been as close as they are at this time,” says Malkoutzis. The party was initially skeptical about the arms deliveries to Ukraine. “Traditionally, Greece has always avoided getting involved in armed conflicts,” says Malkoutzis.
Nevertheless, he could imagine that support for Ukraine would change little if Syriza entered into a coalition with the Social Democrats. But if such a center-left coalition were dependent on a third partner, such as Varoufakis’ MeRA25, things would get complicated, Malkoutzis said. Because the former finance minister firmly rejects arms deliveries.
