| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Vouli Ton Ellinon / Hellenic Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
6 May 2012 |
| Purpose of elections |
Early elections took place in a context of economic crisis and popular anger at the austerity measures contained in the "troika's" (EU
IMF and the European Central Bank) rescue plan for the Greek economy. The results saw strong support for parties who campaigned against austerity and a major setback for the traditional parties of government.
In November 2011
Prime Minister George Papandreou of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) resigned both as Prime Minister and PASOK leader. Mr. Lucas Papademos
former European Central Bank Vice President
subsequently formed a government of national unity to lead the country until the new elections. The PASOK
now led by Mr. Evangelos Venizelos
and the New Democracy (ND) of Mr. Adonis Samaras
both supported the austerity measures while the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) of Mr. Alexis Tsipras
insisted that they must be cancelled.
No party won a majority in the May 2012 elections. The ND came in first with 108 seats
up from 91; while the tally of the PASOK sharply dropped from 160 to mere 41
followed by the Independent Greeks (AE) with 33 seats. The parties which campaigned against the austerity measures fared well. The SYRIZA increased its share from 13 to 52 seats
thereby becoming the second largest party. The Communist Party (KKE) took 26 (up from 21). The neo-fascist Golden Dawn (Chryssi Ayghi) and the Democratic Left (DA) won parliamentary representations for the first time
taking 21 and 19 seats respectively.
Under the Constitution
the country's President may task the leaders of up to three largest parties with forming a government. However
ND
SYRIZA and PASOK were all unable to forge a new coalition. President Karolos Papoulias therefore called another early election for 17 June 2012. The President of the Council of State (the supreme administrative court)
Mr. Panagiotis Pikramenos
will lead a caretaker government until the June elections. In the meantime
the newly elected parliament convened on 18 May. |
Date of previous elections: 4 October 2009
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 11 April 2012
Timing of election: Early elections
Expected date of next elections: 17 June 2012
Number of seats at stake: 300 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: Not available
Percentage of women candidates: Not available
Number of parties contesting the election: 10
Number of parties winning seats: 7
Alternation of power: N/A (No government was formed)
Number of parties in government: N/A
Names of parties in government: N/A
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 18 May 2012
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Vyron Polydoras (ND) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 6 May 2012 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
9'949'401
65.1%
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Gain/Loss |
|
|
|
| New Democracy (ND) |
108
|
17 |
|
|
|
| Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) |
52
|
39 |
|
|
|
| Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) |
41
|
-'119 |
|
|
|
| Independent Greeks (AE) |
33
|
|
|
|
|
| Communist Party (KKE) |
26
|
5 |
|
|
|
| Golden Dawn (Chryssi Ayghi) |
21
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Left (DA) |
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
244
56
18.67%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
| Source: Hellenic Parliament (17.05.2012) |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
