Greece: high-risk elections for the right

At a polling station during the general election in Athens, Greece, May 21, 2023. REUTERS - LOUIZA VRADI

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

High-risk elections for the Greek leader: Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in power since 2019, hopes to win this Sunday, May 21 against his left-wing rival, former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. The conservative leader is credited by pollsters with a slight lead, and these general elections are expected to be very close, three months after the train disaster that killed 57 people and deeply traumatized the country.

Advertising

Read more

This is Kyriakos Mitsotakis' stated objective: to obtain a sufficiently broad result this Sunday to control Parliament and continue to govern alone. The 55-year-old Conservative Prime Minister highlights the return of growth, the surge in tourism and the fall in unemployment. An economic balance sheet that is meant to be flattering – a little too much probably in the eyes of voters who denounce inflation, low wages and especially the dilapidated state of public services.

>> READ ALSO: Greeks go to the polls for uncertain legislative elections

Towards a new election?

Tragically illustrated by the Tempé rail disaster last February, which aroused the anger of the Greek population. Facing Mistotakis, former left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras who hopes to capitalize on this anger to return to power. The Syriza leader has refocused his discourse, and he hopes to form a coalition with the socialist Pasok. But the most likely scenario, after these elections, is that of an unobtainable majority. A new election could then be organised at the beginning of July.

♦ Report: Before the end of the campaign, the two party leaders each held a final meeting at the end of the week in the Greek capital

I believe in a better Greece for the future of our children...

Report in the meetings in Athens

Joël Bronner

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

Read on on the same topics:

  • Greece
  • Alexis Tsipras
  • Kyriakos Mitsotakis