June 2019 Greek legislative election

June 2019 Greek legislative election
Election name	June 2019 Greek legislative election
Country	Greece
Type	parliamentary
Previous election	2015 Greek legislative election (September)
Previous year	September 2015
Next election	2023 Greek legislative election
Next year	2023
Seats for election	All 300 seats in the Hellenic Parliament
Majority seats	151
Turnout	57.92%
Election date	7 July 2019
Party1	New Democracy (Greece)
Leader1	Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Seats1	158
Popular vote1	2,251,411
Percentage1	39.85%
Party2	Syriza
Leader2	Alexis Tsipras
Seats2	86
Popular vote2	1,781,174
Percentage2	31.53%
Party3	Movement for Change
Leader3	Fofi Gennimata
Seats3	22
Popular vote3	457,519
Percentage3	8.10%
Party4	Communist Party of Greece
Leader4	Dimitris Koutsoumpas
Seats4	15
Popular vote4	299,621
Percentage4	5.30%
Party5	Greek Solution
Leader5	Kyriakos Velopoulos
Seats5	10
Popular vote5	208,805
Percentage5	3.70%
Posttitle	Prime Minister after election
Before election	Alexis Tsipras
Before party	Syriza
After election	Kyriakos Mitsotakis
After party	New Democracy (Greece)

June 2019 Greek legislative election was a snap election held in the Hellenic Republic on 7 July 2019. It resulted in a decisive victory for the center-right New Democracy party, led by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, over the incumbent left-wing coalition government of Alexis Tsipras and Syriza. The election marked a significant political shift, ending the four-year tenure of the Tsipras government and ushering in a new administration focused on economic liberalization. Voter turnout was notably low, reflecting a degree of public disillusionment following years of austerity measures and bailout programs.

Background

The election was called after the 2019 European Parliament election, where New Democracy secured a substantial victory over the ruling Syriza party. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, facing declining popularity and pressure from his coalition partner, the Independent Greeks, opted to dissolve the Hellenic Parliament and seek a fresh mandate. This period followed the formal conclusion of the third bailout program in 2018, though the country remained under enhanced surveillance by the European Commission and the European Stability Mechanism. The political climate was heavily influenced by the aftermath of the Prespa agreement, which resolved the Macedonia naming dispute but proved domestically contentious for the Tsipras cabinet.

Electoral system

The election was conducted under a reinforced proportional representation system, as amended by the Greek electoral law of 2016. This system allocates 250 seats proportionally based on votes, with an additional 50 seats awarded as a bonus to the party that wins a plurality, aiming to facilitate stable governments. The electoral threshold for entry into the Hellenic Parliament was set at 3% of the national vote. The country was divided into 59 multi-seat constituencies, corresponding to the prefectures, with Crete and the Aegean Islands having specific allocations. Voting was compulsory, though this provision was not enforced.

Parties and leaders

The major contenders were the center-right New Democracy, led by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the left-wing Syriza, led by incumbent Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. The center-left Movement for Change, a coalition including PASOK and led by Fofi Gennimata, positioned itself as a moderate alternative. Other significant parties included the Communist Party of Greece under Dimitris Koutsoumpas, the nationalist Greek Solution led by Kyriakos Velopoulos, and the far-right Golden Dawn, whose leadership was on trial during the campaign. The coalition partner Independent Greeks, led by Panos Kammenos, failed to cross the electoral threshold.

Opinion polls

Throughout the campaign, opinion polls consistently showed a strong lead for New Democracy over Syriza, with margins often exceeding 8-10 percentage points. Major polling firms like MRB Hellas, Pulse RC, and Metron Analysis published regular surveys indicating a significant swing away from the incumbent government. The Movement for Change and the Communist Party of Greece were projected to secure parliamentary representation, while support for Golden Dawn appeared to be collapsing. Polls also suggested a potential fragmentation of the vote, with new parties like Greek Solution gaining traction.

Results

New Democracy won a commanding victory with 39.85% of the vote, securing 158 seats in the Hellenic Parliament and an outright parliamentary majority. Syriza placed second with 31.53% and 86 seats, while the Movement for Change received 8.10% and 22 seats. The Communist Party of Greece won 15 seats, and the newly formed Greek Solution entered parliament with 10 seats. Notable outcomes included the failure of Golden Dawn to win any seats for the first time since 2012 and the exclusion of the Independent Greeks. Voter turnout was a record low of 57.92%, with significant abstention in urban centers like Athens and Thessaloniki.

Aftermath

Following the results, Kyriakos Mitsotakis was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Greece, forming the Cabinet of Kyriakos Mitsotakis. His government immediately pursued a legislative agenda focused on tax cuts, privatizations, and attracting foreign investment, signaling a clear break from the policies of the previous administration. Alexis Tsipras conceded defeat and transitioned into the role of Leader of the Opposition. The election solidified the political realignment that began after the Greek government-debt crisis, with New Democracy re-establishing itself as the dominant force in Greek politics and Syriza consolidating as the main left-wing party.

Category:2019 elections in Europe Category:2019 in Greece Category:Legislative elections in Greece