On Sunday at 07:00 local time, polling stations opened across Greece for the general election, inviting nearly 10 million eligible voters to choose a new Parliament and government. Across the country, 21,500 polling places were staffed to administer the vote and ensure ballots were counted accurately.
Early projections based on opinion surveys suggested that seven of the thirty participating parties had a realistic chance of surpassing the 300-seat threshold, a figure that roughly corresponds to 3 percent of the total seats needed to form the Parliament. These initial estimates set the stage for a closely watched contest as voters prepared to cast their ballots.
New Democracy emerges as the frontrunner
The conservative New Democracy party, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, stood out in recent surveys as the leading force, with around 40 percent of voter support. This position places Mitsotakis about 20 percentage points ahead of his main challenger, Alexis Tsipras of Syriza, who hovered near 20 percent. While these numbers echoed trends from the May 21 elections, analysts cautioned that the forthcoming voting day could reshape the dynamic as supporters traveled to polling places.
Under Greece’s electoral rules, a party reaching roughly 39 percent could secure an absolute majority in Parliament, aided by a bonus mechanism that can award up to 50 additional seats to the leading party. That bonus, which had been removed for the May cycle, was reinstated for this election and could prove decisive in forming a government if a single party captures a strong mandate. The potential for a clear mandate has been a topic of intense discussion among voters and commentators alike.
In third place, the Social Democrats registered around 12 percent support, followed by the Pasok-Kinal alliance at about 6.5 percent, and the nationalist Greek Solution near 4 percent. For the first time in this contest, two smaller formations circulated as candidates for parliamentary seats: the Freedom Ride led by Zoe Konstantopoulou with roughly 4 percent, and a new far-right faction associated with the theologian Dimitris Natsios, polling near 3.5 percent.
Mitsotakis argues for stable governance
In campaign remarks, Mitsotakis framed his case around stability and steady governance that can propel Greece toward durable growth and a more integrated European orientation in the years ahead. The goal is to raise incomes and living standards while steering the economy along a path of reform and disciplined public policy.
Tsipras, by contrast, championed an agenda centered on an economy that serves all citizens. Following Syriza’s losses in May, the party emphasized a robust opposition role and renewed its appeal to voters as the defender of social needs and fairness. Tsipras contends that renewed policy focus could restore Syriza’s influence and push for more balanced economic outcomes for the broader population.
Observers noted that inflation in basic food items remained a challenge during Mitsotakis’s tenure, yet the wider economy posted growth that outpaced the European average. The performance attracted substantial foreign investment and signaled resilience even as price pressures persisted at home.
If Mitsotakis secures an outright majority, he would become the first Greek prime minister to win a second full four-year term since the financial crisis that began in 2010. After a full day of voting, polling stations were scheduled to close at 19:00 local time, with the first results anticipated within the following hour. By 21:00 local time, the seat distribution would become clearer, indicating whether New Democracy had achieved the desired majority. This development would determine whether a single party could govern without coalition partners.
The mood nationwide remained receptive to a new political chapter, as voters weighed the promise of stability against the appeal of reform and social policy. As ballots were tallied and initial results emerged, analysts stressed that the final composition of Parliament would shape Greece’s economic, foreign, and domestic agendas for years to come. The outcome would offer a clear signal about the direction of policies on taxation, public services, and Greece’s role within the European Union, with potential implications for investment climates and regional relations. [Attribution: Election coverage, multiple prospective outlets]