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Politics of Greece |
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From the restoration of democracy in 1974 to the 2012 elections, the characteristic Greek political system was predominantly a two-party system. The historically dominant parties were New Democracy and the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). Under the electoral system, a party needs to surpass a 3% threshold in the popular vote in order to enter parliament. Until 2023, the largest party used to get a 50-seat bonus (out of 300 seats), ostensibly to ensure elections returned viable governing majorities. The 2023 Greek legislative election was the first and only that was held without the 50-seat bonus rule. Although New Democracy achieved a large percentage of 40.7% and beat the opposition party by 20%, they fell short of forming a majority by 5 seats. The Hellenic Republic had a caretaker prime minister until the June 2023 Greek legislative election was held.
See also: History of Modern Greece |
This period was mainly ruled between the right-wing and the centre.
The major parties that emerged were the People’s Party and the Liberal Party. In 1926, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), which would later define the left for years, entered the parliament.
From 1950 to 1963, the predominant parties that won all elections in this period were the People’s Party (later Hellenic Rally) and the National Radical Union (ERE) (both from the right).
After the seven-year dictatorship ended, the former leader of ERE, Konstantinos Karamanlis, was called back from exile to form a new government and then created the New Democracy (ND) party. Monarchy was abolished in 1974, making the political parties the sole determinants of politics in Greece.
Further, 1974 saw the establishment of a new party, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) under Andreas Papandreou, representing a socialist ideology. For the decades to come, PASOK and New Democracy were the two parties that dominated Greek politics, creating a formidable two-party system, with the communist party KKE coming third.
The party system during this period was characterised by strong bureaucratic clientelism.
The global economic crisis that heavily affected Greece had an impact in reshaping the party system that had been stagnant for decades. Confidence in the traditional parties declined; this led to the end of the continuous two-party system and single-party governments. There was new movement towards the creation of coalitions and an increase in the number of parties entering parliament.
The party that rose through the crisis was the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA). It finished second on the crucial May 2012 legislative elections and later won the 2015 elections. It was the first party from the left wing in Greece's history to win an election.
A new split in the party system ideology (created during the economic crisis) which was evident in the 2012 elections was a pro- or anti-European stance. This resulted in an unprecedented coalition between the major traditional parties New Democracy and PASOK and the minor party DIMAR. Similarly, the coalition that was created after the 2015 elections between SYRIZA, a left-wing party, and ANEL, a populist right party, was based on their common views regarding Europe.
This period of turmoil also saw the rise of the controversial far-right party Golden Dawn. It became a third party in parliament after the 2015 elections.
In 2018, the past major party PASOK merged with other centrist parties and created the Movement of Change (KINAL) formation.
The elections in 2019 saw a return to a single party government with the continuously dominant New Democracy claiming the majority in parliament.
Party | Acronym | Leader | MPs | MEPs | Ideology | Political position |
International affiliation |
European affiliation | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Democracy, Νέα Δημοκρατία, Néa Dimokratía |
ND, ΝΔ |
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, president |
158 / 300
|
7 / 21
|
Liberal conservatism[1] Christian democracy[2] |
Centre-right[3] to right-wing[4] | IDU CDI |
EPP | ||
Coalition of the Radical Left, Συνασπισμός Ριζοσπαστικής Αριστεράς, Sinaspismós Rizospastikís Aristerás |
SYRIZA, ΣΥΡΙΖΑ |
Stefanos Kasselakis, president |
36 / 300
|
2 / 21
|
Democratic socialism[5] Social democracy[6] |
Centre-left to left-wing | None | PEL | ||
PASOK-KINAL, Πανελλήνιο Σοσιαλιστικό Κίνημα- Κίνημα Αλλαγής, Panellinio Sosialistiko Kinima - Kínima Allagís |
PASOK-KINAL, ΠΑΣΟΚ – ΚΙΝΑΛ |
Nikos Androulakis, president |
31 / 300
|
1 / 21
|
Social democracy | Centre-left | SI PA |
PES | ||
Communist Party of Greece, Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας, Kommounistikó Kómma Elládas |
KKE | Dimitris Koutsoumpas, general secretary |
21 / 300
|
2 / 21
|
Communism Marxism–Leninism |
Far-left | IMCWP | INITIATIVE | ||
Greek Solution, Ελληνική Λύση, Ellinikí Lýsi |
EL, ΕΛ |
Kyriakos Velopoulos, president |
12 / 300
|
1 / 21
|
Ultranationalism National conservatism |
Right-wing to far-right |
None | ECR | ||
Spartans, Σπαρτιάτες, Spartiátes |
S, Σ |
Vasilis Stigkas, president |
7 / 300
|
0 / 21
|
Neo-fascism Ultranationalism |
Far-right | None | None | ||
New Left, Νέα Αριστερά, Néa Aristerá |
NA, ΝΑ |
Alexis Haritsis, parliamentary leader |
11 / 300
|
1 / 21
|
Democratic socialism | Centre-left to left-wing | None | None | ||
Democratic Patriotic Movement – Victory, Δημοκρατικό Πατριωτικό Κίνημα – Νίκη, Dimokratikó Patriotikó Kínima – Níki |
NIKI, NIKH |
Dimitris Natsios, chairman |
10 / 300
|
0 / 21
|
National conservatism Christian nationalism |
Far-right | None | None | ||
Course of Freedom, Πλεύση Ελευθερίας, Plefsi Eleftherias |
PE, ΠE |
Zoe Konstantopoulou, president |
6 / 300
|
0 / 21
|
Anti-establishment Left-wing nationalism |
Catch-all | None | None |
Name | Acronym | Position | Ideology | Leader | National affiliation | European affiliation | MPs | MEPs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agricultural Livestock Party of Greece Αγροτικό Κτηνοτροφικό Κόμμα Ελλάδος |
AKKEL Α.Κ.Κ.ΕΛ. |
Centre | Agrarianism Agrarian reform |
Vakis Tsiompanidis | Independent Greeks (2015) United Popular Front-Agricultural Livestock Party of Greece (2019) |
European Alliance for Freedom and Democracy | 0 | 0 | |
Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow Αντικαπιταλιστική Αριστερή Συνεργασία για την Ανατροπή |
ANTARSYA ΑΝΤΑΡΣΥΑ |
Left-wing to far-left | Socialism Anti-capitalism |
21 member committee | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Assembly of Greeks Ελλήνων Συνέλευσις |
ESY Ε.ΣΥ. |
Far-right | Ultranationalism Greek nationalism |
Artemis Sorras | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Christian Democracy Χριστιανική Δημοκρατία |
XD ΧΔ |
Left-wing | Christian socialism Democratic socialism |
Giannis Zervos | Political Initiative (since 2023) | None | 0 | 0 | |
Christian Democratic Party of the Overthrow Χριστιανοδημοκρατικό Κόμμα Ανατροπής |
XPIKA ΧΡΙΚΑ |
Centre-right | Christian democracy Conservatism |
Nikos Nikolopoulos | Union for the Homeland and the People (2014) Independent Greeks (2015) Union of Centrists (2019) |
Greek Solution | 0 | 0 | |
Communist Organization of Greece Κομμουνιστική Οργάνωση Ελλάδας |
KOE Κ.Ο.Ε. |
Left-wing | Communism Maoism |
None | None | 0 | 0 | ||
Communist Party of Greece (Marxist–Leninist) Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας (Μαρξιστικό – Λενινιστικό) |
KKE(m–l) Κ.Κ.Ε.(μ-λ) |
Far-left | Marxism–Leninism-Maoism Anti-revisionism |
Grigoris Konstantopoulos | Marxist–Leninist Communist Parties of Greece | None | 0 | 0 | |
Cynical Party of Greece-Diogenis Κυνικό Κόμμα Ελλάδος-Διογένης |
KKE-D ΚΚΕ-Δ |
Big tent | Political satire | Unknown | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Democratic National Reform Union Ένωση Δημοκρατικής Εθνικής Μεταρρύθμισης |
EDEM Ε.Δ.Ε.Μ. |
Centre | Liberalism | Apostolos Pontas | PASOK-KINAL (since 2018) | None | 0 | 0 | |
Democratic Revival Δημοκρατική Αναγέννηση |
DIMAN ΔΗΜ.ΑΝ. |
Centre | Greek nationalism Christian democracy |
Stelios Papathemelis | Political Initiative (since 2023) | None | 0 | 0 | |
Democratic Social Movement Δημοκρατικό Κοινωνικό Κίνημα |
DΙΚΚΙ ΔH.K.KI. |
Left-wing | Social democracy Socialism |
Giorgos Boutris | Alliance of the Overthrow | None | 0 | 0 | |
Democrats Δημοκρατικοί |
Dem Δημ |
Centre | Social liberalism Economic liberalism |
Theodoros Polyzoidis | New Democracy | None | 0 | 0 | |
Ecologist Greens Οικολόγοι Πράσινοι |
OP Ο.Π. |
Left-wing | Green politics | Konstantinos Ziavras, Alexandra Datseri | Ecologist Greens – Pirate Party of Greece (2014) SYRIZA (2015–2020) Ecologist Greens – Green Unity (since 2023) |
EGP, G-EFA | 0 | 0 | |
Ecologists of Greece Οικολόγοι Ελλάδας |
Right-wing | Green conservatism | Konstantinos Papanikolas | None | None | 0 | 0 | ||
European Realistic Disobedience Front 25 Μέτωπο Ευρωπαϊκής Ρεαλιστικής Ανυπακοής 25 |
MeRA25 ΜέΡΑ25 |
Left-wing | Democratic socialism Market socialism[9] |
Gianis Varoufakis | None | DiEM25 | 0 | 0 | |
Fighting Socialist Party of Greece Αγωνιστικό Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας |
ASKE Α.Σ.Κ.Ε. |
Left-wing | Democratic socialism Left-wing nationalism |
None | None | 0 | 0 | ||
Free Citizens Ελεύθεροι Πολίτες |
Centre-left | Social democracy | Michalis Nikitakis | None | None | 0 | 0 | ||
Free People Movement Κίνημα Ελεύθερων Ανθρώπων |
KELAN Κ.ΕΛ.ΑΝ. |
Centre-right to far-right | National conservatism Right-wing populism |
Paris Kourtzidis | Greek Overthrow | None | 0 | 0 | |
Greece, Another Path Ελλάδα, ο άλλος δρόμος |
ANOTHER PATH ΑΛΛΟΣ ΔΡΟΜΟΣ |
Centre-right to right-wing | National conservatism |
Notis Marias | None | ECR | 0 | 0 | |
Greek Ecologists Έλληνες Οικολόγοι |
EO E.O. |
Ecologism Social progressivism |
Dimosthenis Vergis | None | None | 0 | 0 | ||
Greek Unity Ελληνική Ενότητα |
EL.EN ΕΛ.ΕΝ. |
Right-wing to far-right | Greek nationalism | Vasilis Protopapas | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Greens-Solidarity Πράσινοι-Αλληλεγγύη |
Greens Πράσινοι |
Centre-left | Green politics | Nikos Chrysogelos | Prasino+Mov (since 2022) | None | 0 | 0 | |
I Don't Pay Movement Κίνημα Δεν Πληρώνω |
Far-left | Socialism Anti-capitalism |
Vasilis Papadopoulos | Course of Freedom | None | 0 | 0 | ||
Independent Greeks Ανεξάρτητοι Έλληνες |
ANEL ΑΝ.ΕΛ. |
Centre-right | Conservatism | Panos Kammenos | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Greece Μαρξιστικό-Λενινιστικό Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας |
M-L KKE Μ-Λ Κ.Κ.Ε. |
Far-left | Marxism–Leninism-Maoism Anti-revisionism |
Antonis Papadopoulos | Marxist–Leninist Communist Parties of Greece | None | 0 | 0 | |
Movement for the Reorganization of the Communist Party of Greece 1918–1955 Κίνηση για την Ανασύνταξη του ΚΚΕ 1918–55 |
Anasintaxi Ανασυνταξη |
Far-left | Marxism–Leninism Stalinism |
Tasos Mpallos | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Movement of Democratic Socialists Κίνημα Δημοκρατών Σοσιαλιστών |
KIDISO ΚΙ.ΔΗ.ΣΟ. |
Centre-left | Social democracy | George Papandreou | PASOK-KINAL | None | 1 | 0 | |
National Front Εθνικό Mέτωπο |
EM Ε.Μ. |
Far-right | Ultranationalism Greek nationalism |
Emmanouil Konstas | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
National Hope Εθνική Ελπίδα |
EE E.E. |
Right wing to far-right | National conservatism Monarchism |
Giorgos Papadopoulos | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
National Party - Greeks Εθνικό Kόμμα - Έλληνες |
GREEKS ΕΛΛΗΝΕΣ |
Far-right | National conservatism Anti-immigration | Dimitris Chatziliadis | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
National Unity Association Σύνδεσμος Εθνικής Ενότητας |
SEE Σ.Ε.Ε. |
Right-wing | Patriotism National conservatism |
Nikos Alikakos | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
New Right Νέα Δεξιά |
ΝEDE ΝΕ.ΔΕ. |
Far-right | National conservatism Greek nationalism | Failos Kranidiotis | none | ID | 0 | 0 | |
Organization for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party of Greece Οργάνωση για την Ανασυγκρότηση του Κομουνιστικού Κόμματος Ελλάδας |
OAKKE Ο.Α.Κ.Κ.Ε. |
Far-left | Communism | Elias Zafiropoulos | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Organisation of Internationalist Communists of Greece Οργάνωση Κομμουνιστών Διεθνιστών Ελλάδας |
OKDE Ο.Κ.Δ.Ε. |
Far-left | Communism Trotskyism |
None | None | 0 | 0 | ||
Panathinaikos Movement Παναθηναικό Κίνημα |
PAN.KI. ΠΑN.KI. |
Centre | Ioannis Alevizos | None | None | 0 | 0 | ||
Panhellenic Citizen Chariot Πανελλήνιο Άρμα Πολιτών |
PARP Π.ΑΡ.Π. |
Centre-left | Giannis Dimaras | Independent Greeks (2012–2014) Union of Centrists (2019) |
None | 0 | 0 | ||
Party of Friendship, Equality and Peace Κόμμα Ισότητας, Ειρήνης και Φιλίας Dostluk-Eşitlik-Barış Partisi |
KIEF Κ.Ι.Ε.Φ DEBP |
Centre | Turkish minority interests Centrism |
Çiğdem Asafoğlu | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Party of Greek Hunters Κόμμα Ελλήνων Κυνηγών |
KEK Κ.Ε.Κ. |
Centre-right | Conservatism | Giorgos Tsagkanelias | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Patriots Πατριώτες |
PD-PE Π.Δ. - Π.Ε. |
Far-right | National conservatism Anti-immigration | Prodromos Emfietzoglou | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Patriotic Force for Change Πατριωτική Δύναμη Αλλαγής |
PATRIDA ΠΑΤΡΙ.Δ.Α. |
Far-right | National conservatism Anti-immigration | Konstantinos Bogdanos | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Pirate Party of Greece Κόμμα Πειρατών Ελλάδας |
KPE Κ.Π.Ε. |
Freedom of information Direct democracy |
Has no leader, but a management board. | Ecologist Greens – Pirate Party of Greece (2014)
Prasino+Mov (since 2022) |
PPEU, supported G-EFA |
0 | 0 | ||
Popular Greek Patriotic Union Λαϊκή Ελληνική Πατριωτική Ένωση |
L.E.P.EN. ΛΕ.Π.ΕΝ. |
Far-right | Greek nationalism Anti-immigration |
Christos Rigas | Greeks for the Fatherland | APF | 0 | 0 | |
Popular Orthodox Rally Λαϊκός Ορθόδοξος Συναγερμός |
LA.O.S ΛΑ.Ο.Σ |
Far-right | Greek nationalism Conservatism |
Filippos Kampouris | None | MELD | 0 | 0 | |
Popular Unions of Bipartisan Social Groups Λαϊκές Ενώσεις Υπερκομματικών Κοινωνικών Ομάδων |
L.E.F.K.O. Λ.Ε.Υ.Κ.Ο. |
Konstantinos Dalios | Independent Greeks (2015) | None | 0 | 0 | |||
Popular Unity-Insubordinate Left Λαϊκή Ενότητα-Ανυπότακτη Αριστερά |
LAE-AA ΛΑ.Ε.-A.A. |
Left-wing to far-left |
Democratic socialism[10] Left-wing populism |
Dimitris Stratoulis, Marianna Tsixli | MeRA25-Alliance for the Rupture | None | 0 | 0 | |
Rainbow Ουράνιο Τόξο Виножито |
Centre | Slavic Macedonian minority rights Regionalism |
Collective leadership | None | European Free Alliance | 0 | 0 | ||
Recreate Greece Δημιουργία Ξανά |
DIXAN ΔH.ΞAN. |
Right-wing | Neoliberalism[11][12][13] Anti-immigration |
Vaggelis Aktsalis | None | ALDE | 0 | 0 | |
Social Agreement Κοινωνική Συμφωνία |
KOISY ΚΟΙ.ΣΥ. |
Centre-left | Social democracy Democratic socialism |
Louka Katseli | SYRIZA | None | 0 | 0 | |
Society First Η Κοινωνία Πρώτα |
H.K.P Η.Κ.Π |
Left wing | Democratic socialism Socialism |
Stefanos Katsaras | SYRIZA | None | 0 | 0 | |
Society of Values Κοινωνία Αξιών |
Centre | Liberalism | Stelios Fenekos | The River (2019) Society of Values – Liberal Alliance | None | 0 | 0 | ||
Smoking Groups for Art and Visual Art Καπνιστικές Ομάδες για την Τέχνη και την Εικαστική Συγκρότηση |
K.O.T.E.S. Κ.Ο.Τ.Ε.Σ |
Legalization of smoking | Nikos Louvros | SYRIZA (2019) , KKE | None | 0 | 0 | ||
Start – Socialist Internationalist Organisation Ξεκίνημα – Σοσιαλιστική Διεθνιστική Οργάνωση |
Χ Ξ |
Far-left | Trotskyism Democratic socialism |
None | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Union of Centrists Ένωση Κεντρώων |
E.K. Ε.Κ. |
Centre | Venizelism National liberalism |
Vasilis Leventis | None | European Democratic Party | 0 | 0 | |
United Popular Front Ενιαίο Παλλαϊκό Μέτωπο |
EPAM Ε.ΠΑ.Μ. |
None | Patriotism Greek nationalism |
Dimitris Kazakis | Alliance of the Overthrow | None | 0 | 0 | |
Voice of Logic Φωνή Λογικής |
FL Φ.Λ. |
Far-right | National conservatism Anti-immigration | Afroditi Latinopoulou | None | None | 0 | 0 | |
Volt Greece Βολτ Ελλάδας |
VOLT ΒΟΛΤ |
Centre | Social liberalism Progressivism |
Nikolas Fournarakis, Theodora Fabricezi | Prasino+Mov (2022–2023) | Volt Europa | 0 | 0 | |
Workers Revolutionary Party Εργατικό Επαναστατικό Κόμμα |
EEK Ε.Ε.Κ. |
Far-left | Communism Trotskyism |
Savas Matsas | None | None | 0 | 0 |