Greek conservative opposition New Democracy (ND) has won the European and local elections in Greece dealing a severe blow to Alexis Tsipras and his SYRIZA party.
Official forecasts say that ND has won by almost nine percentage points over SYRIZA, getting 32.8 percent of the popular vote with SYRIZA falling short with 24 percent of the popular vote.
Speaking after the first official results were announced, ND leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that the government has lost its legitimacy.
“Greece is in need of a new government. PM Tsipras must assume his responsibility and resign. The country needs elections,” Mitsotakis said.
He added that he strives to unite all Greeks irrespective of who they voted for. “The sun is rising on a much brighter Greece,” he said.
Center-left Movement of Change comes third with 7.8 percent, the Communist Party got 5.5 percent, extreme right Golden Dawn 4.9 percent and anti-European Greek Solution (Elliniki Lysi) 4.1 percent.
Official projection by Singular Logic:
Governing SYRIZA is also being dealt a blow in regional and local elections.
Five Greek regions are positioned to elect a Governor without a run-off next week, due to candidates gaining more than 50 percent of the vote. New Democracy candidates are expected to win Central Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly, and the South Aegean while Crete goes to SYRIZA/KINAL.
(This is a developing story)