2024 European Parliament election in Greece

2024 European Parliament election in Greece was held on 9 June 2024 to elect the 21 Greek members of the European Parliament. The election occurred concurrently with the second round of the 2024 Greek local elections, creating a significant national political test for the ruling New Democracy party under Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The results reflected a fragmented political landscape, with eight parties securing representation, marking a shift from the previous 2019 European Parliament election in Greece.

Background

The election took place in the context of the Mitsotakis II Cabinet, which had secured a strong majority in the 2023 Greek legislative election. Key issues dominating the campaign included the cost of living crisis, migration management, and Greece's role within the European Union following the NextGenerationEU recovery fund. The political environment was also shaped by the Tempi train crash and subsequent protests, which had impacted public trust in the Hellenic Parliament. The electoral system used was party-list proportional representation with a 3% national threshold.

Parties and candidates

The major contesting parties were the governing New Democracy, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the main opposition Syriza under its newly elected leader Stefanos Kasselakis. The center-left PASOK – Movement for Change, led by Nikos Androulakis, sought to regain influence. Other significant contenders included the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) under Dimitris Koutsoumpas, the right-wing Greek Solution of Kyriakos Velopoulos, and the newly formed left-wing Course of Freedom led by former Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Zoe Konstantopoulou. Smaller parties like the Christian democratic Niki and the centrist Voice of Reason also fielded candidate lists headed by figures such as Dimitris Natsios and Achilleas Demertzis.

Opinion polls

Throughout the campaign, opinion polls conducted by firms like Pulse RC, Metron Analysis, and MRB consistently projected a victory for New Democracy, though with a reduced margin compared to its performance in the 2023 Greek legislative election. Polls indicated a close race for second place between Syriza and PASOK – Movement for Change, and a significant challenge for smaller parties to cross the electoral threshold. Surveys often highlighted voter concerns over economic stability and national debt, influencing the final pre-election forecasts.

Results

New Democracy emerged as the largest party, securing 28.31% of the vote and 7 seats, a loss of 2 seats from 2019. Syriza placed second with 14.92% and 4 seats, while PASOK – Movement for Change won 12.79% and 3 seats. The Communist Party of Greece and Greek Solution each gained 2 seats. For the first time, three smaller parties entered the European Parliament: the Course of Freedom, Niki, and the Voice of Reason, each winning one seat. Voter turnout was 58.69%, a slight decrease from the previous election. The results were officially confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior.

Aftermath

The outcome was interpreted as a relative setback for Kyriakos Mitsotakis and New Democracy, despite its first-place finish, given its significant vote share decline from national elections. The success of multiple smaller parties fragmented the opposition and prompted internal discussions within Syriza regarding the leadership of Stefanos Kasselakis. The election of representatives from eight different parties to the European Parliament was seen as reflecting a more pluralistic Greek political scene. The results also influenced the composition of the European People's Party and the Party of the European Left within the European Parliament.

Category:2024 European Parliament election Category:2024 elections in Greece Category:European Parliament elections in Greece