Greek government formation, May

Alexis Tsipras, leader of left-wing party SYRIZA, stated that these elections are important for the future of democracy in Greece from the voting station in Peristeri where he cast his ballot.

A meeting of political party leaders convened by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou in a final attempt to form a coalition government after Sunday's inconclusive elections proved unsuccessful on Wednesday.

Greek leftist leader Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday turned down a mandate to form a coalition government, saying he was preparing for a second election in June after what he called a "painful" electoral defeat for his SYRIZA party.

Greek Prime Minister and leader of New Democracy, Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R), enters his party's offices , 21 May 2023. Photo EPA-EFE/GEORGE VITSARAS

After 77.27 per cent of the total votes were counted, Kyriakos Mitsotakis's New Democracy won 40.83 per cent of the votes, almost twice as much as Alexis Tsipras's SYRIZA, which won 20.10 per cent.

Ruling New Democracy, SYRIZA and PASOK were put on another collision course over talks of a so-called "special purpose government."

During a press conference on Tuesday, SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras was asked whether he would consider forming a short-lived government to cleanse the political system tarnished by the wiretapping case.

Speaking during a "fireside chat" at the Delphi Economic Forum on its opening day Wednesday, Greek opposition leader Alexis Tsipras noted that the big challenge for the country as it heads to general elections next month is "not whether we will remain in Europe, but whether we will become Europe, whether we will become a normal European country."

The speculation around partnerships between parties against the backdrop of ruling New Democracy's aim to form a single-party government will be the central theme of the long election period that will end on July 2. The first election in May will be conducted with the single proportional system.

Former premier and SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras on Saturday called for the "transformation" of his party into a broader movement that would be home to "progressive and democratic" forces. 

Amidst fears that many New Democracy voters may abstain from the 7 July general election due to the conviction that ND will win anyway (as it defeated SYRIZA by nine percentage points in the 26 May European Parliament election), main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis has upped the ante and is warning that if his party fails to clinch a comfortable parliamentary majority there will be a seco

After a devastating performance in recent polls for European Parliament and regional and local government, the Independent Greeks (ANEL) party has decided to defer a decision on whether it will run in next month's general elections until a meeting on Sunday of its national council.