Athens [Greece], June 27:Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was sworn in for a second term on Monday, and in a televised event told the country's president that he wants to quickly implement additional reforms.
His cabinet appointments were expected later on Monday. With 99.6 per cent of the votes counted, Mitsotakis' New Democracy Party won 40.6 per cent, according to election figures provided by the Interior Ministry.
With 158 parliamentary seats, the prime minister has an absolute majority in the 300-seat parliament, making his party one of the strongest people's parties in the European Union.
Mitsotakis' strongest rival, the left-wing Syriza party of former head of government Alexis Tsipras, received 17.8 per cent and now has 48 seats in parliament. The Social Democrats (PASOK) received 11.9 per centand 32 seats, while the Communist Party obtained 7.7 per cent and 20 seats.
Mitsotakis beat Syriza in May, but called new elections in a bid to win a majority.
"ND is today the most powerful centre-right party in Europe," he told delighted supporters in Athens.
Mitsotakis is credited with successfully returning the Greek economy to stability and growth after a severe debt crisis and three international bailouts.
Although many Greeks are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, voters chose to stick with the party promising lower taxes and improved public health."The people have given us a safe majority," said Mitsotakis as the extent of his victory became clear. "Major reforms will go ahead quickly."
Last month, his party fell just short of a majority in the 300-seat parliament and his decision to call an election in a bid to form a stable, single-party government was vindicated by Sunday's result.
Under Greek rules for a second election, the biggest party is awarded a bonus of between 20 and 50 seats. With more than 40 per cent of the vote, New Democracy won all 50.
Mitsotakis said he could not promise miracles, but that New Democracy had "high goals" to transform Greece with a better public health service and education.The far-right Spartiates made it over the 3 per cent hurdle to enter parliament with 4.6 per cent or 12 seats.
Former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's centre-left Syriza had been soundly defeated in the first election and lost further ground in the second, with less than 18 per cent of the vote.
The currently imprisoned right-wing extremist IliasKasidiaris had a strong influence on Sunday's Greek parliamentary elections from his jail cell, according to media reports.
Spartiates party leader VassilisStigas thanked Kasidiaris during the election evening. "The support of IliasKasidiaris was the fuel for the election result," he told journalists.
Kasidiaris had previously failed several times in court in his bid to stand in the elections himself.
He was part of the leadership cadre of the far-right Golden Dawn party, which was represented in parliament for many years before the entire leadership was convicted of forming a criminal organisation and other offences. They have been in prison ever since. Meanwhile the right-wing populist party EllinikiLisiile garnered 4.5 per cent of the vote for 12 seats, and the ultra-orthodox party Niki received 3.7 per cent and 10 seats.
Source: Qatar Tribune