The second Greek general election of 2015 has resulted in a triumph for Alexis Tsipras. His far-left party Syriza is on course to win 35.5% of the vote and 145 seats. The centre-right New Democracy party is set to take 75 seats with 28% of the vote share – virtually unchanged from the previous election.
Meanwhile, the far-right Golden Dawn party confirmed its position as the third force in parliament, gaining a seat compared with January’s election. The party, according to exit poll data, was the preferred option among unemployed voters.
How the unemployed voted: 16.6% for Golden Dawn 5.1% for Pasok pic.twitter.com/LxYtLKZzXT
— Damian Mac Con Uladh (@damomac) September 20, 2015
The election result:
Although Syriza is projected to win fewer seats and a slightly lower vote share than in January, it is worth remembering that seven parties then managed to pass the 3% threshold needed to enter parliament.
Following Sunday’s election, the seven parties will be joined by the Union of Centrists, which is set to win seats for the first time since its founding in 1992.
However, the Popular Unity party that was formed by the 25 MPs who broke away from Syriza – and triggered the snap election – looks unlikely to enter parliament, falling just short of the required 3% mark. Considering that the pro-drachma group held nearly a fifth of Syriza’s seats in the last parliament, they are the big losers of the night.
Once these two factors are taken into account, the result is remarkably similar to that achieved in January.
Basically, this wasn't a Greek election, it was just a really complex government reshuffle.. #Greece
— Lorcan Roche Kelly (@LorcanRK) September 20, 2015
Despite the clear victory, Syriza again falls short of an outright majority (151 seats) and will need the support of other parties in order to govern.
The most likely scenario is a renewed coalition with Anel. Many pre-election polls had the small rightwing party below the 3% mark required to win seats, but with about 4% of the vote share, the party is on track to win 10 seats - down from January’s 13 – but, with a combined 155 seats, the two parties have the numbers needed to form a government.
Tsipras to be sworn in as PM tomorrow & SYRIZA-Independent Greeks gov't to be named Tue/Wed, reports @geoterzis #Greece #GreekElections
— Nick Malkoutzis (@NickMalkoutzis) September 20, 2015
Voter turnout is projected to be about 56.5%, which would be a record low.
