Athens, June 25 (EFE).- The prime minister of Greece for the last four years, the conservative Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has reached an absolute majority in the elections held this Sunday, according to the first exit polls.
The conservative New Democracy has achieved between 40 and 44% of the votes, according to a survey broadcast by public television ERT after closing the polling stations at 4:00 p.m. GMT.
The minimum percentage for an absolute majority is 38%, after a bonus of up to 50 seats was introduced in these elections -in a parliament of 300 deputies- for the winner.
The leftist opposition party Syriza, led by former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, follows by far, with between 16.1 and 19.1%.
The extreme right, in fifth position
The Pasok-Kinal Social Democrats came in third place, with around 10% of the vote, followed by the Communist Party of Greece (7.2-9.2%).
According to projections, in fifth place – with between 4 and 6% of the ballots – is the far-right party “Espartanos”, to which the former neo-Nazi deputy Ilías Kasidiaris, currently in prison for leading a criminal gang, showed his support a few weeks ago.
Four other parties are fighting to enter Parliament by overcoming the 3% barrier, including the leftist MeRA25 of former Finance Minister Yanis Varufakis.
In the elections of May 21, New Democracy came in first place but did not achieve an absolute majority.
New elections after failing to reach an agreement
Mitsotakis after failed coalition negotiations called new elections, knowing that they would be held with a new electoral law that grants bonus seats to the winner and could govern alone.
The support for Mitsotakis in these elections is mainly due to his economic management, according to all the studies.
Despite the fact that the country’s economy has not yet reached the levels prior to the 2010 debt crisis, the Greeks recognize their work, with increases in pensions and salaries, the arrival of investments and the country’s growth above the European Union average.
With migration at the center of the debate
And despite the fact that their government has faced scandals, such as the wiretapping of an opposition politician and journalists, the Greeks voted more with their pockets than thinking of possible democratic setbacks.
On immigration policy, Mitsotakis followed through on his promise to reduce asylum claims and protect the borders, which has attracted conservative voters despite criticism from human rights groups and aid organizations for applying, they say, hot returns.
Neither these criticisms nor the recent shipwreck with hundreds of deaths and disappearances have diminished support for him at the polls.