On Monday, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou appointed Judge Ioannis Sarmas as a caretaker prime minister to prepare the country for a fresh election, after the three main party leaders rejected a mandate to form a coalition government following Sunday's inconclusive vote. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis turned down the mandate, stating that he would seek a second vote on June 25 to secure an outright majority for his ruling New Democracy party. Meanwhile, the leader of center-left Syriza party, Alexis Tsipras, and the leader of socialist party PASOK, Nikos Androulakis, also rejected the mandate.
Although the date for the next election has not been formally announced yet, Mitsotakis has indicated that it will happen on June 25, subject to there being no constitutional issues. In the previous election, voters cast their ballots against a backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis, a wiretapping scandal, and outrage over the deadliest-ever train crash in Greece.
Mitsotakis' New Democracy party won a significant victory, securing over 40% of the vote, but fell short of winning an outright majority. In contrast, Tsipras' Syriza party suffered crushing losses, winning just 20% of the vote. Tsipras described the result as a "painful shock" and apologized to those who were hurt by the party's performance.
The elections took place amid a wiretapping scandal that saw the government accused of spying on opposition politicians and journalists, raising concerns over the rule of law. Androulakis of the socialist party PASOK called for a "serious and credible" opposition, urging progressives to work together to rebuild a strong and reliable force.
Mitsotakis expressed confidence in his party's performance, while acknowledging the need to secure an outright majority. The New Democracy party campaigned on the back of the country's successful economic turnaround, with Mitsotakis positioning himself as a reliable leader who could deliver economic growth. Overall, the country is now preparing for a fresh election, with all parties aiming to secure as much support as possible from the electorate.