2009 Greek legislative election

2009 Greek legislative election was held on 4 October 2009 to elect all 300 members of the Hellenic Parliament. The election resulted in a decisive victory for the opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) led by George Papandreou, ending the five-year premiership of Kostas Karamanlis and his New Democracy (ND) party. This political shift occurred against a backdrop of growing economic anxiety, as the early effects of the Great Recession began to impact Greece, setting the stage for the subsequent Greek government-debt crisis.

Background

The election was called early by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in September 2009, seeking a renewed mandate amidst mounting challenges. His New Democracy government had been weakened by a series of scandals, including the Vatopedi monastery land swap affair, and was struggling to manage the economy. The global Great Recession had severely impacted Greece, exposing structural weaknesses in public finances and leading to rising unemployment. Furthermore, the government faced significant public discontent over its handling of widespread riots in December 2008 and devastating forest fires in 2007. The opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement, under George Papandreou, capitalized on this climate, promising a stimulus package and a "green development" model.

Parties and leaders

The dominant contenders were the incumbent center-right New Democracy, led by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, and the center-left Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), led by George Papandreou. Other significant parties included the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), steadfastly led by Aleka Papariga, and the left-wing Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), which was contesting its second election under its young leader, Alexis Tsipras. The nationalist Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS), led by Georgios Karatzaferis, also sought to increase its presence. Minor parties like the Ecologist Greens and the newly formed Democratic Left also participated, though they failed to cross the 3% electoral threshold.

Campaign

The campaign was dominated by the deteriorating economic situation. George Papandreou and PASOK focused on a message of change, criticizing the ND government for economic mismanagement and corruption, and promising a 3-billion-euro stimulus package. Kostas Karamanlis defended his government's record, warning that a change in government would endanger stability and the country's position within the European Union. Key issues included rising public debt, the need for reforms to the national statistics agency, and social policies. The KKE and SYRIZA campaigned on anti-austerity and anti-memorandum platforms, while LAOS emphasized national issues and traditional values.

Results

The election produced a clear parliamentary majority for PASOK, which secured 160 seats with 43.92% of the vote, a significant increase from the 2007 election. New Democracy suffered a major defeat, winning only 91 seats with 33.47%, its worst result in decades. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) received 7.54% and 21 seats, while the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) garnered 4.60% and 13 seats. The Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) entered parliament with 15 seats and 5.63%, marking its best performance. Voter turnout was 70.95%, a decline from previous elections. The results were seen as a strong mandate for George Papandreou to address the economic crisis.

Aftermath

On 6 October 2009, George Papandreou was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Greece, forming a PASOK government. His administration immediately faced the urgent task of addressing the fiscal crisis, which had been significantly understated by the previous government. Within months, it was revealed that the budget deficit was far larger than reported, leading to a downgrade of Greece's credit rating by agencies like Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings. This precipitated the full-blown Greek government-debt crisis, forcing the Papandreou government to negotiate the first EU-IMF bailout package in May 2010. These austerity measures led to widespread social unrest, the rapid decline of PASOK's popularity, and ultimately triggered a prolonged period of political instability, including the snap elections of May 2012.

Category:2009 elections in Greece Category:Legislative elections in Greece