Greek Prime Minister and New Democracy (ND) party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivers a statement after winning the Greek elections in Athens, Greece, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by Marios Lolos/Xinhua)
In Sunday's general elections, the ruling conservative New Democracy (ND) party scored a landslide victory winning 40.79 percent of the votes and thus 146 seats in parliament, but failed to secure an outright majority in the 300-member parliament.
ATHENS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis decided on Monday to return the exploratory mandate he had received from President Katerina Sakellaropoulou to form a government following this weekend's inconclusive elections.
During their meeting, he called for a second ballot to be held as early as June 25 if possible, according to an e-mailed press release.
In Sunday's general elections, the ruling conservative New Democracy (ND) party scored a landslide victory winning 40.79 percent of the votes and thus 146 seats in parliament. The main opposition party, SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, garnered 20.7 percent of the votes with 71 seats.
Supporters of New Democracy (ND) party celebrate at the political party's headquarters in Athens, Greece, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by Marios Lolos/Xinhua)
However, the ND failed to secure an outright majority in the 300-member parliament.
After the speaker of parliament formally delivered the results to Sakellaropoulou, she launched the procedure foreseen by the country's Constitution, granting the first three-day mandate to the leader of the winning party.
"I think that essentially the conditions for the formation of a government from the present parliament do not exist," Mitsotakis told Sakellaropoulou.
Hours later, he called the president and told her that he wanted to return the mandate, according to a press release.
Sakellaropoulou will now grant three-day mandates to the leaders of the second and third-placed parties, the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance and the socialist PASOK-KINAL, which received 11.46 percent of the votes with 41 seats.
She will receive SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday, according to a press statement.
If the overall process proves unsuccessful, a caretaker government will lead Greece to new elections.
Greek Prime Minister and New Democracy (ND) party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis (C) celebrates with supporters at the political party's headquarters in Athens, Greece, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by Marios Lolos/Xinhua)
In the runoff elections, a revised electoral system will be used. This provides a bonus of up to 50 extra seats for the winning party, facilitating the formation of a single-party government.
The frontrunner could gain an absolute majority in parliament with about 38 percent of the votes under this system, according to political analysts. ■