March 28. 2024. 10:25

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Greek president approves PM request for 21 May election


Greece’s president approved a request from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to dissolve the parliament and hold general elections on 21 May as the country prepares for a vote which is unlikely to result in a clear winner.

Mitsotakis revealed the date of the elections during a cabinet session in late March. His term ends officially in July. He told Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the president of Greece, on Saturday (22 April) that the parliament would be dissolved on 23 April.

"I wish us a peaceful and productive pre-election campaign, for the sake of our country," Sakellaropoulou said to the conservative premier at the start of a four week political campaign.

The election will take place under a system of proportional voting. According to opinion polls, neither Mitsotakis’ New Democracy party nor Syriza, the main opposition party on the left, is likely to get the votes required for a parliamentary majority.

Mitsotakis expressed his hope for full participation at the elections.

A second vote will take place in early July if the parties that were elected are unable to form a government coalition.

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