SYRIZA leaking in all directions

The loss of 12 points by SYRIZA, compared to the previous election, which constitutes a negative record for a party in opposition, has put it, and its leadership, on the back foot, with large spillovers to other parties.

As suggested by the results, 10% of its voters leaked to center-left PASOK, 5% to communist KKE, 3.3% to leftist MeRA25 and 3.4% to Nationalist Greek Solution. The largest percentage of voters in 2019, however, moved toward ruling New Democracy (11%).

Indeed, a qualitative analysis of the ballots cast can in many ways explain ND's sweeping victory by more than 20 points, as it dominated in all age and professional groups.

The percentages achieved by New Democracy among the younger age groups, over which SYRIZA was considered to have the upper hand these days, were particularly noteworthy. In the 17-24 age category, which includes first-time...