In a televised speech, Mitsotakis hailed what he called “a strong mandate” from voters.
– The people have given us a secure majority. Major reforms will be pushed forward quickly, says the Prime Minister.
Jubilant supporters with blue and white party flags had gathered outside New Democracy’s headquarters to celebrate the election victory.
Mitsotaki’s party gets over 40 percent, while the main opponent, the left-wing alliance Syriza, falls below 18 percent. This means that New Democracy has increased its lead compared to the first round of elections in May. Then the governing party got almost 41 percent, against 20 for Syriza.
The margin of victory is the widest for New Democracy in over 50 years. Thanks to a change in the electoral law that gives the largest party bonus mandates, governing parties are predicted to win 158 of the 300 seats in parliament.
Small lots over the threshold
A total of eight parties are predicted to pass the three percent barrier and take a seat in parliament. Of them, three are new, all on the right side.
One of the newcomers is the newly formed far-right Spartiat, which with 4.7 percent looks set to win 13 seats. The party has been supported by Ilias Kasidiaris, former leader of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn. He is serving a 13-year prison sentence, convicted of belonging to a criminal organization that attacked migrants and left-wing activists.
Spartia leader Vassilis Stigas thanks Kasidiaris for his support and says his party should stand for Greek ideals and values, something he lacks in the current parliament.
Golden Dawn sat in parliament for seven years, but ended up out of the 2019 election.
Also new in parliament are the ultra-religious Niki party and the nationalist Greek solution is returning.
The left-wing party Mera25 and its leader, former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, fall under the ban and leave parliament.
Mitsotaki’s main rival Alexis Tsipras, leader of Syriza and prime minister between 2015 and 2019, conceded defeat and said he would leave it to party members to decide whether he should continue as party leader.