Parliamentary Elections 2012 in Greece – Results

According to Interior Ministry results of the Parliamentary Elections 2012 that took place (on May 6) throughout the country, seven parties are entering the Hellenic  Parliament.

With 110% of the vote counted, the results are as follows: New Democracy (ND) polls first with 18.85% securing 108 seats, the Coalition of Radical Left (SYRIZA) is in second place with 16.78% of vote and 52 seats, PASOK is third with 13.18% and 41 seats, the Independent Greeks party gets 10.6% and 33 seats, the Communist Party of Greece gets 8.48% of vote and 26 seats, Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) 6.97% and 21 seats, and Democratic Left 6.1% of vote and 19 seats.

The Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) and Eco-Greens with 2.90 % and 2.93% respectively did not manage to pass the minimum 3% threshold, thus failing to enter Parliament.

From the 9.949.401 registered citizens, 65.10% participated in the electoral process and 34.9% abstained, while invalid/blank votes reached 2.36%.

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Local Elections Run-off

Following the second round of local elections yesterday, the ruling PASOK party won the majority of regional governorships (8 to 5).
In municipal elections and -despite a high abstention rate- there was a change of leadership in the three major cities.
In Athens, Giorgos Kaminis, the former Ombudsman, won the mayorship, with the support of Pasok, after defeating the incumbent New Democracy (ND) mayor, Nikitas Kaklamanis.
In Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, the independent Yiannis Boutaris, supported by Pasok, defeated ND-backed candidate Costas Gioulekas, while in Pireus, Vassilis Michaloliakos, supported by ND defeated Pasok candidate Yiannis Michas.
Commenting on the results, Prime Minister George Papandreou said that the citizens “rejected the sirens of destabilisation and gave the government a clear three years of work to enable it to continue the effort for the country’s salvation and recovery.”
The premier also called on all political parties to “assume responsibility” and work together with the aim of saving the country. Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Antonis Samaras said that “the second round confirmed the political conclusions of the first Sunday” and gave the opportunity to his party to emerge “renewed, strong and responsible.”
For more information: Ministry of Interior, Decentralization and E-Government: Regional & Municipal Elections 2010 Results (in Greek); Kathimerini Daily: Pasok gets regional upper hand; YouTube: PM’s nationwide televised press statement (in Greek)
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

PM George Papandreou Interview at “Politique Internationale”

Few countries have suffered from the global economic crisis as much as Greece. Not only did it feel the full force of the financial earthquake, but it also found itself under attack by international speculators. Today, as the IMF and the European Union prepare to help, the country is licking its wounds and trying to understand how things got so bad. George Papandreou is not the last to ask the question. Elected prime minister in October 2009, the leader of the Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) is fiercely critical of the previous center-right New Democracy administration, which he believes is guilty of setting up a system of cronyism and of knowingly underestimating the public debt and budget deficit. But the new head of government is an energetic man. In this exclusive interview, he outlines his strategy for resolving his country’s daunting problems. http://www.politiqueinternationale.com/revue/article.php?id_revue=127&id=901&content=synopsis

Immigrants vote in 2010 Municipal Elections

The much awaited immigrants’ participation in municipal elections is a fact, following a new legislative amendment passed by the government.
According to an interior ministry circular, all eligible immigrants can register untilAugust 31 2010– the previous deadline was June 30 – at their local municipality’s election office should they want to vote in the upcoming ballot on November 14. Interior Minister Yiannis Ragousis stressed that “the participation of legally residing, long-term residents is a historic event.” 
About the procedure and the eligibility criteria: Ministry of the Interior (in Greek)
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

PM George Papandreou: Economic crisis “a crucial national threat”

 

 (GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Prime Minister George Papandreou, addressing a cabinet meeting on Sunday, termed the economic and monetary crisis “a crucial national threat”.    Papandreou, however, expressed optimism over the favourable outcome of the struggle being waged by the government, calling on all Greeks and the mass media in particular to say “no to panic .”
The major changes that have been scheduled for 2010, which he termed a year of great changes and reforms, must be turned into practice as a precondition for this.
The prime minister made a positive assessment of the first 100 days of the country’s governance which, as he said, “we assumed in a deep and multifaceted crisis with a large size debt and deficits that were bequeathed to us by the previous government.”
He added that the economy alone was not at the root of problems, but the country’s way of governance as well.
Papandreou further said that during the first 100 days the “government stood at the level of its historical responsibility which is to have the citizen as its first concern,” adding that apart from changes in regional administration, great reforms and changes are also required in central administration.
He stressed that the changes will meet with great resistances but expressed certainty that they will have the approval of the Greek people.
Papandreou said that at the end of the coming week the stability and growth programme will be announced, as well as the proposals for government and legislative work that will be following in the near future.
He said he would be giving a press conference at the Zappion Mansion in the middle of the week and would be announcing the main conclusions on governance so far and priorities for the coming period, while calling on ministers to do the same in their field of responsibility.
 The prime minister also announced the creation of a “prestigious advisory committee” on the modernisation and operation of the government and institutional bodies with the principle “the citizen first” always being the target.
He stressed that the new architecture of self administration is part of the government’s overall planning so that on November 14, 2010, local administration elections will be held for the new strong municipalities and the regions.
Papandreou added that the “implementation of the great vision of the world of local administration will begin,” terming this task extremely difficult and for which the consent of all is required and that the government shall seek.
He further pointed out that resources for local administration will be secured in the framework of taxation policy and added that with the electoral law which will be voted in Parliament “a decisive blow will be dealt at black political money”.
Papandreou also referred to the government’s struggle for transparency and expressed satisfaction for the positive response met by his initiative to request from the President of the Republic to convene a meeting of party leaders.
Lastly, the prime minister also referred to the bomb attack that occurred in front of the Parliament building on Saturday, stressing that “no one and with no action can intimidate the country’s political world” and underlined that “we are not going to let such an action pass like this.”

International Media on Greece

 

 

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) In their article “Can Greece lead the way” (9.11.2009) for “openDemocracy,” Anthony Barnett and Mary Kaldor write about the fact that though the left across Europe flounders in the wake of the economic crisis – where the centre right is resurgent – the Greek socialist party under George Papandreou could prove the exception with its dramatic election victory.    
They argue that Papandreou’s goal is an innovative form of progressive government that combines green development, democratic openness, and international reconciliation.
“Papandreou is an exceptionally original and open-minded politician, wishing to lead both Greece and PASOK towards a genuinely far-sighted response to the financial and environmental crisis and the international challenges facing Europe.”

Greece’s New Parliament Sworn in

Greece's new 300-member parliament that emerged from the October 4 general elections was sworn-in on Wednesday morning, in a special ceremony in the unicameral House. (ANA-MPA/Aliki Eleftheriou)

(ANA)  Greece’s new 300-member parliament that emerged from the October 4 general elections was sworn-in on Wednesday morning, in a special ceremony in the unicameral House.  The swearing-in took place after the traditional blessing, officiated by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece.  “I swear in the name of the Holy Consubstantial and Indivisible Trinity to keep faith in my Country and in the democratic form of government, obedience to the Constitution and the laws and to discharge conscientiously my duties,” the MPs pledged, with the exception of PASOK MPs Nikos Sifounakis, Maria Damanaki, Spyros Kouvelis and Maya Tsokli, and the MPs of the two Left parties, while the two Muslim deputies elected on the main opposition PASOK party’s tickets in Xanthi and Rodopi took a similar oath with their hand on the Koran.  The MPs of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), with the exception Liana Kanelli, did not take a religious oath, while the MPs of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA parliamentary alliance) did not attend the religious party of the ceremony.  The KKE and SYRIZA parliamentary groups submitted letters to the parliament presidium endorsing a political oath instead of the religious oath, which is set out in the Greek constitution.  Ruling PASOK holds 160 seats in the new parliament, followed by main opposition New Democracy (ND) with 91 seats, the KKE with 21 seats, the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) with 15 seats, and SYRIZA with 13 seats.

Papandreou’s PASOK Scores Landslide Win

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) party and its leader George Papandreou posted a landslide election victory on Sunday in Greece’s snap election, garnering 43.94% of the vote, against 33.48% for New Democracy with 99.04% of votes counted. This translates into 160 seats in Parliament – out of a total of 300 – for PASOK, 91 for New Democracy, 21 for the Communist Party of Greece (7.54%), 15 for the Popular Orthodox Rally (5.63%), and 13 for the Radical Left Coalition (4.59%). Voter turnout totalled 70.91%.  “Our responsibility is to change the direction in which the country is going,” said PASOK leader and Prime-Minister elect George Papandreou in a brief statement during which he promised to “put smiles back on the faces of Greeks” and to “put the citizen at the heart” of his government’s actions.  Papandreou – a former foreign minister – received several congratulatory phone calls from world leaders including US President Barack Obama, who said he wanted to be amongst the first to congratulate the PASOK leader, along with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias.   Apart from being a victory for PASOK and Papandreou, who will become the third member of his family to govern Greece, the result of yesterday’s election was a defeat for New Democracy, which saw its share of the popular vote decline from more than 45% 2004, when it was first elected to power under the leadership of Kostas Karamanlis, to 41,8% in 2007 and to just over 33% yesterday. Karamanlis announced that he would be stepping down as the president of New Democracy, a position he held since 1997.  Ministry of Interior: National Elections 2009 Kathimerini daily: Papandreou and PASOK sweep to victory; World Media Reports (Google): PASOK wins Greek election  Greek News Agenda: Special Issue: Parliamentary Election in Greece 2009

Ελλάδα: Εθνικές Εκλογές / Αποτελέσματα

(ΥΠΟΥΡΓΕΙΟ ΕΣΩΤΕΡΙΚΩΝ) Τα αποτελέσματα των Βουλευτικών εκλογώνΤα αποτελέσματα των Βουλευτικών Εκλογών 2009 που διενεργήθηκαν στην Ελλαδα την Κυριακή 4 Οκτωβρίου 2009. THE RESULTS IN ENGLISH

Greece: Political Leaders’ TV Debate

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) With pre-election fever soaring, the leaders of all political parties which are currently represented in the Hellenic and European Parliaments, competing for the October 4 national elections, will participate tonight (September 21) in a televised debate to be broadcast at 20:00 by ERT (Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation).

A panel of journalists will pose questions on six topics: the economy, the environment, public administration, work and social policy, education, and foreign policy.   There will be two rounds of questions with three topics each and at the end of each round Party leaders will have the opportunity to pose one question to each other, without however being able to comment on the reply.   A second debate, between Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and main opposition Party leaderGeorge Papandreou, is also scheduled for tomorrow (September 22).  Political Parties represented at the televised debate: New Democracy: en.nd.gr; Panhellenic Social Movement: www.pasok.gr; Communist Party of Greece: inter.kke.gr; Coalition of the Left and Ecology: www.syn.gr; Popular Orthodox Rally: www.laos.gr; Ecologist Greens:www.ecogreens.gr Secretariat General for Information: About Greece- Government and Politics

Greece: Parliament’s Disolution Ahead o the Elections

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias received yesterday (September 3) the Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis at the Presidential Mansion.  Karamanlis formally requested the President’s approval to dissolve the parliament on Monday. The decision to call early elections on October 4 “was made to serve the nation’s interest,” Karamanlis said following talks with Papoulias who gave his consent adding that decisions of such kind belong to the Prime Minister and should point to the people’s best interest.  The Prime Minister stressed that the reasons for this decision are strictly linked to the challenge of dealing with the global economic slump and its ramifications on the Greek economy. “The following two years are decisive for the Greek economy and especially 2010,” the premier concluded.  After the meeting, Karamanlis chaired an Inner Cabinet meeting and asked his ministers to resign. Official pre-election period opens on Monday September 7, in view of October 4 parliamentary elections.   Kathimerini Daily: PM appeals to voters as date set for elections; Secretariat General of Information – About Greece: Political System and Elections in Greece 

Greece: Snap Elections for October 4

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on Wednesday called an early general election. In a televised address Karamanlis underlined the need for immediate structural reforms and measures to deal with the repercussions of the international economic crisis and what he called decades-old problems of the domestic economy and public sector. He said that strict fiscal discipline, a “war” on tax evasion and long-due structural reforms are imperative. However, as he pointed out, reforms necessitate a fresh mandate which will secure a stable political environment. Leader of the main opposition party, George Papandreou greeted the PM’s decision, calling for a “new beginning” and pointing out that the country’s economic problems where the fault of the government and could not be attributed to the global financial crisis. Secretariat General of Information – About Greece: Political System and Elections in Greece

European Elections

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) The 27 countries in the European Union will elect the 736 members of the European Parliament this weekend for a 5-year term. More than 375 million people are eligible to vote in the 27 EU member states. Voting is by secret ballot, and results cannot be released by any country until voting ends in all member states. Since the last election in 2004, Romania and Bulgaria have joined the EU. Kathimerini daily: A quick guide to the European polls
 
Greek Expats 

According to figures available by the Greek consulate authorities, a total of 24,644 voters have registered to vote in Germany, 4,700 in Cyprus, 2,123 in Belgium, 673 France, 325 in Luxembourg, 518 in Sweden, 450 in Britain, 163 in the Netherlands and a few hundred in the rest EU countries. Roughly 500,000 Greek expatriates live across the EU.
See also Greek News Agenda: Special Issue- European Elections 2009

European Parliament Elections 2009

JUNE 4-7: EUROPEANS VOTE
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(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  In Greece, the European Parliament elections will take place on June 7.  In the member-states of the EU, where Greek citizens reside permanently or happen to be during the election period, the election will take place on June 6.  The Greek diplomatic authorities in those member-states must provide information regarding the precise election day, Greek citizens’ voting rights, as well as the electoral procedure to be followed. For the EU Election, the Greek Territory constitutes a united electoral region (22 seats).  In the other member-states, the elections will take place from June 4 to 7. The elections will be carried out with general, direct, secret voting, as stipulated.

WHY VOTE
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By voting in the European elections, the citizens choose who influences the future and the daily life of close to 500 million fellow Europeans.  The citizens’ participation in the decision-making process, at both local and European level, is set as a permanent and constant priority by the European Union.   Fully adopting the principles of equality and not discrimination, the Greek Ministry of Interior invites all EU citizens residing in Greece to exercise their right of vote.  European Parliament: Why Vote 

 

DISTRIBUTION OF SEATS
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The members of the European Parliament are elected under a pure proportional electoral system.Voting results from all over the country are processed and published by the Supreme Election Committee of the Ministry of Interior.  This Committee sets the final electoral vote chart and distributes the seats of the European Parliament to all the political groups, after incorporating the vote of Greek citizens residing in other EU member states into the general voting results achieved in the Greek State.

THE RIGHT TO CANDIDACY
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Greek citizens who have reached the age of 25 on the day of the election and have the ability to vote have the right to be elected to the European Parliament.  Every person who falls under the provisions of the article 56 § 1 and 4 of the Greek Constitution or is a member of the Greek Parliament is barred from the right to be nominated for candidacy.

  

ELECTORAL BODY

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According to the Ministry of Interior, 9,866,913 Greek citizens reside in Greece and have the right to vote on the June 7, while 110,562 young people will vote for the first time.  The Greek citizens who reside in other EU member states and have the right to vote on the June 6 total 36,758, according to the number of petitions filed at the Greek Consulates. The number of European citizens who reside in Greece and will vote in June amounts to 6,530.  For further information click here.

 

ELECTION CAMPAIGN
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The election campaign begins at least 30 days before the election date.  Political parties represented in the Greek Parliament or in the European Parliament and parties which obtained more than 1.5% of the national vote in the last parliamentary elections receive funding. Media access: All parties represented in the Greek Parliament or the European Parliament have proportional access to state-owned media. During the election campaign, opinion polls will be conducted and published until June 5. After that date, no transmission of political advertising messages and broadcasted pre-election dialogue is allowed.

FACILITATING CITIZENS & THE MEDIA _________________________________________

As of May 15, the Ministry of Interior has launched an advertising campaign to be completed one day before the elections date i.e. June 6, 2009.   The campaign’s slogan is “Vote in Euroelections. Defy indifference.” According to the Minister of the Interior, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the main objective of this slogan is to inform citizens and encourage them to participate in the voting procedure.   Information on where to cast ballots can be easily acquired by calling the 4-digit number 1500, or visiting the ministry’s website at www.ypes.gr, or the public administration’s national portal: www.ermis.gov.gr/portal/page/portal/ermis/    A special television spot for Greek citizens and Hellenic media abroad, as well as the diaspora, is now posted on the websites of Greece’s communication & Press Offices in the rest of EU member states.   Furthermore, the Secretariat General of Information-Communication will set up a special EU Elections Press Centre at Zappeion Hall, in order to facilitate journalists and media covering the event. 

 

 

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS 2004 _____________________________________________

 

Previous European Parliament elections took place on June 13, 2004.  For more information about 2004 Euro-elections’ results, visit the website of Interior Ministry or the website of the European Parliament or the website of the Press and Communication Office in Paris http://www.amb-grece.fr/grece/europeennes.htm .

PARTIES PARTICIPATING

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 1. New Democracy   2. Panhellinic Socialist Movement     3. Greek Communist party   4. Coalition of the Radical left   5. Popular Orthodox Rally    6. Party of the Liberals   7. Fighting Socialist Party of Greece  8. Dimosthenis Vergis- Greek Ecologists   9. Working revolutionary party    10. Liberal alliance    11. Union of Centrists  12. Popular Nationalist Movement-Chrysi Avgi  13. Panhellenic Macedonian Front  14. Society 15. Popular Unions of Bipartisan Social Groups  16. M-L Greek Communist Party 17. European Alliance – Rainbow   18. Party of Greek Hunters    19. Left anticapitalist cooperation  20. Patriotic Humanitarian Movement  21. Youth Party    22. Green Ecologists  23. Action  24. OAKKE – Organisation for the Reconstruction of Communist Party of Greece  25. Greek Ecologists  26. Greek Unit   27. Greek Movement of Direct Democracy

Which Europe do We Want – Citizens Have Their Say

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The Office of the European Parliament in Athens in cooperation with the Citizens’ Movement “Kapodistrias-Spinelli-Europe” organisation  debated on the topic “European Elections 2009: Which Europe do we want. Citizens have their say,” on February 20, and addressed by deputies of the European Parliament. The 2009 parliamentary elections as well as a historic overview of Altiero Spinelli’s contribution to the European Union’s creation was the focus of discussion.  Although centuries apart, Spinelli and Kapodistrias appear to have shared common visions. The towering figure of Count Ioannis Capodistrias (1776-1831) who laid the foundations of the modern Greek state, inspired democratic and constitutional ideals across Europe. He participated in shaping the constitution of the Swiss Confederation during the 19th century as well as the Congress of Vienna in 1814 which determined the fate of the European states in the era of restoration. Altiero Spinelli (1907-1986) was a strong advocate of European federalism with a highly esteemed European activity which culminated on 14 February 1984, when the European Parliament adopted his report and approved the Draft Treaty Establishing the European Union. See also: Kapodistrias-Spinelli-Europe

Bill for Expatriate Greeks Vote to be Tabled

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   The inner cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, approved yesterday a bill that would give Greek citizens living abroad the right to vote in general elections in Greece from their place of residence. Greeks abroad will be included in special electoral rolls to be compiled and regularly updated by the Greek consulates abroad. Each party will be allowed to name maximum three candidates on the party’s state list, said Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos. He also clarified that the proposed bill will be transitional.  Once it has been tested in practice, the government would then examine the possibility of representation for specific regions abroad and possible ways to implement the constitutional provision for postal voting.