Alexis Tsipras, the one-time leftist firebrand who stormed to power on an anti-austerity agenda in Greece in 2015, stepped down from the helm of the Syriza party after 15 years on Thursday, following a heavy election defeat.

At the height of Greece's deep economic crisis, Tsipras, known for sporting his no-tie look, rode a wave of anti-establishment anger to become the country's first leftist prime minister.

Tsipras, and his finance minister at the time Yanis Varoufakis, were global household names when Greece was racked with violent street protests against the international bailouts that saved the country from bankruptcy but imposed painful austerity on Greeks.

Syriza lost to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's New Democracy in 2019, and in Sunday's vote, won just 17.8 per cent&nbsp;of the votes, against 40.5 for New Democracy.

"The time has come to start a new cycle," Tsipras said in a televised address announcing his resignation.

"The negative election result can - and must - become the beginning of this cycle," he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/europe/greek-elections-mitsotakiss-conservatives-on-track-for-decisive-majority-608629">Greek elections: Mitsotakis's conservatives on track for decisive majority</a>

Tsipras said he would not be a candidate in elections for a new party leader.

Tsipras' decision to step down was "sudden", a party source said, but also "the right one for the party's reform and his own legacy". &nbsp;&nbsp;

When elected at the age of 40, Tsirpas, an engineer by training and a former member of the Communist youth, was one of Greece's youngest-ever prime ministers.&nbsp;

Soon after taking power, he railed against austerity and the bailout programmes backed by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund that he says had triggered a humanitarian crisis in Greece.

But after months of fierce fighting with other eurozone countries, Tsipras was forced in June 2015 to impose capital controls. In July, he won a referendum urging Greeks to reject an offered bailout but made a U-turn and signed up for a tougher programme a month later.&nbsp;

Since Greece's third and final bailout programme ended in 2018, the country has regained market access, cut down its record debt and growth is set to outpace the euro zone's average. Public anger has quietened down as a result.

Following an inconclusive general election in May, in which Syriza came second, political analysts said Syriza missed the willingness of the electorate to move away from the crisis years.

"I am proud of everything that happened," Tsipras said on Thursday. "This difficult journey had compromises, and difficult decisions, and injuries and attrition, but it was a journey that left a mark on history."

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Alexis Tsipras, the one-time leftist firebrand who stormed to power on an anti-austerity agenda in Greece in 2015, stepped down from the helm of the Syriza party after 15 years on Thursday, following a heavy election defeat.

Alexis Tsipras, the one-time leftist firebrand who stormed to power on an anti-austerity agenda in Greece in 2015, stepped down from the helm of the Syriza party after 15 years on Thursday, following a heavy election defeat. At the height of Greece's deep economic crisis, Tsipras, known for sporting his no-tie look, rode a wave of anti-establishment anger to become the country's first leftist prime minister. Tsipras, and his finance minister at the time Yanis Varoufakis, were global household names when Greece was racked with violent street protests against the international bailouts that saved the country from bankruptcy but imposed painful austerity on Greeks. Syriza lost to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's New Democracy in 2019, and in Sunday's vote, won just 17.8 per cent of the votes, against 40.5 for New Democracy. "The time has come to start a new cycle," Tsipras said in a televised address announcing his resignation. "The negative election result can - and must - become the beginning of this cycle," he said. Also read | Greek elections: Mitsotakis's conservatives on track for decisive majority Tsipras said he would not be a candidate in elections for a new party leader. Tsipras' decision to step down was "sudden", a party source said, but also "the right one for the party's reform and his own legacy". When elected at the age of 40, Tsirpas, an engineer by training and a former member of the Communist youth, was one of Greece's youngest-ever prime ministers. Soon after taking power, he railed against austerity and the bailout programmes backed by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund that he says had triggered a humanitarian crisis in Greece. But after months of fierce fighting with other eurozone countries, Tsipras was forced in June 2015 to impose capital controls. In July, he won a referendum urging Greeks to reject an offered bailout but made a U-turn and signed up for a tougher programme a month later. Since Greece's third and final bailout programme ended in 2018, the country has regained market access, cut down its record debt and growth is set to outpace the euro zone's average. Public anger has quietened down as a result. Following an inconclusive general election in May, in which Syriza came second, political analysts said Syriza missed the willingness of the electorate to move away from the crisis years. "I am proud of everything that happened," Tsipras said on Thursday. "This difficult journey had compromises, and difficult decisions, and injuries and attrition, but it was a journey that left a mark on history." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Greek leftist leader Alexis Tsipras resigns as Syriza party leader after crushing poll defeat

Greece will submit a 2020 budget later this year that will fully respect the fiscal targets agreed with its lenders, newly elected <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-polls-opposition-leader-kyriakos-mitsotakis-wins-vows-to-make-country-proud-233849">Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis</a> said on Saturday.

Greece emerged from economic adjustment programmes overseen by its lenders last August but still needs to meet fiscal targets, including a primary budget surplus which excludes interest payments on its debt of 3.5 per cent of annual economic output up to 2022, which many consider unrealistic.

"In the draft budget for 2020, the given fiscal balance is not disrupted and the primary surplus targets for the years 2019 and 2020, agreed by the previous government, are not disputed," Mitsotakis said.

Mitsotakis, who takes over from former leftist prime minister Alexis Tsipras, was elected on a pledge to cut taxes and speed up investments to spur growth in a country which lost a quarter of its output during the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tax-weary-greek-traders-welcome-change-of-government-235694">Greek debt crisis</a>.

He said that planned tax cuts and bold reforms of the economy and public administration would lead to higher growth and help Greece convince its lenders to lower fiscal targets after 2020.

"In 2020...we will have the ability to seek the lowering of primary surpluses to more realistic levels," Mitsotakis said.

Corporate tax will be cut to 24 per cent on 2019 profit from 28per cent currently and taxation on dividends will be halved to 5 per cent, he said, adding that a highly unpopular property tax that was introduced in 2012 at the height of the crisis will be cut by an average 22 per cent this year.

One urgent matter facing Mitsotakis' cabinet is the shoring up of key state-controlled utility Public Power Corp. (PPC), which is saddled with more than 2.4 billion euros of arrears from bills left unpaid during the debt crisis.

Mitsotakis said that PPC, which is 51 per cent owned by the state, would be revamped through the privatisation of its networks and identification of habitual defaulters before a strategic investor is sought for the utility.

The new conservative government, which investors consider to be more market-friendly than its predecessor, also plans to relaunch the sale of Helleneic Petroleum, the country's biggest oil refiner, and push ahead with an 8-billion-euro investment plan for the disused Hellenikon airport which has been beset by years of delays, Mitsotakis said.

"Hellenikon will soon become the symbol of a new Greece of...extroversion and innovation," he said.

Greece will submit a 2020 budget later this year that will fully respect the fiscal targets agreed with its lenders, newly elected Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Saturday.

Greece will submit a 2020 budget later this year that will fully respect the fiscal targets agreed with its lenders, newly elected Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Saturday. Greece emerged from economic adjustment programmes overseen by its lenders last August but still needs to meet fiscal targets, including a primary budget surplus which excludes interest payments on its debt of 3.5 per cent of annual economic output up to 2022, which many consider unrealistic. "In the draft budget for 2020, the given fiscal balance is not disrupted and the primary surplus targets for the years 2019 and 2020, agreed by the previous government, are not disputed," Mitsotakis said. Mitsotakis, who takes over from former leftist prime minister Alexis Tsipras, was elected on a pledge to cut taxes and speed up investments to spur growth in a country which lost a quarter of its output during the Greek debt crisis. He said that planned tax cuts and bold reforms of the economy and public administration would lead to higher growth and help Greece convince its lenders to lower fiscal targets after 2020. "In 2020...we will have the ability to seek the lowering of primary surpluses to more realistic levels," Mitsotakis said. Corporate tax will be cut to 24 per cent on 2019 profit from 28per cent currently and taxation on dividends will be halved to 5 per cent, he said, adding that a highly unpopular property tax that was introduced in 2012 at the height of the crisis will be cut by an average 22 per cent this year. One urgent matter facing Mitsotakis' cabinet is the shoring up of key state-controlled utility Public Power Corp. (PPC), which is saddled with more than 2.4 billion euros of arrears from bills left unpaid during the debt crisis. Mitsotakis said that PPC, which is 51 per cent owned by the state, would be revamped through the privatisation of its networks and identification of habitual defaulters before a strategic investor is sought for the utility. The new conservative government, which investors consider to be more market-friendly than its predecessor, also plans to relaunch the sale of Helleneic Petroleum, the country's biggest oil refiner, and push ahead with an 8-billion-euro investment plan for the disused Hellenikon airport which has been beset by years of delays, Mitsotakis said. "Hellenikon will soon become the symbol of a new Greece of...extroversion and innovation," he said.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says 2020 budget will respect fiscal targets

Greece's new conservative government was sworn in on Tuesday, a day after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis took office vowing to turn the page on a decade of economic crisis.

The 51 members of the new government swore the oath of office on the Bible in a ceremony led by the Archbishop of Athens Ieronymos, in line with Greek tradition.

That further underlined the break with the term of defeated leftist prime minister Alexis Tsipras, an atheist, who had taken the oath in a civil ceremony in 2015.

Mitsotakis, a pro-business conservative, has vowed to ditch Tsipras's proposals to separate Church and state.

Among those sworn into government on Tuesday was Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, 45, who will have a key role in Mitsotakis's pro-growth reforms.

Staïkouras stressed the need "to boost growth, attract investment while reducing the tax burden on households and businesses".

"There are questions which remain unresolved, but we will be working hard to reduce the uncertainties, to attract investors, to create jobs," the 45-year-old economist assured.

Tsipras presided over austerity policies under Greece's third international bailout as it struggled in the global financial crisis.

The US-educated Mitsotakis faces a hefty challenge as he takes over from Tsipras, who imposed austerity measures required under a bailout to keep Greece in the eurozone.

Unemployment eased during his term but remains high at 18 per cent. The country's debt level stands at more than 180 per cent of output.

The debt load is forecast to fall to 168 per cent of GDP this year, but only through the belt-tightening brought in under Tsipras's Syriza party, policies which Mitsotakis's New Democracy party says are stifling growth.

No grace period

"We don't ask for a grace period, we ask to be judged rigorously on the basis of the results of out policies," Mitsotakis said.

Reducing tax levels was one of the main promises of Mitsotakis and his team during the election campaign.

The day after Sunday's election victory, Eurogroup chief Mario Centeno urged the new Greek government to stick to reforms and strict public spending commitments, which were agreed with its eurozone creditors during a punishing decade of bailouts.

"We must keep our commitments, this is the only way I know to gain credibility," Centeno told reporters in Brussels on the day Mitsotakis was sworn in on a promise to ease up on austerity mandated by the eurozone.

The heart of the challenge is the promise made by Greece to the eurozone to deliver a budget primary surplus of 3.5 per cent for the next several years -- an extremely high bar of fiscal rectitude.

The spending target is a cornerstone of the third bailout programme that Greece formally exited in August 2018 but has committed to delivering on until 2022.

Also, still owing billions of euros in bailout loans, Greece remains under 'post-programme surveillance' by its creditors.

'Pleasant surprise'

Perceived as a reformer, and close to the business world, Mitsotakis told the French weekly L'Obs that he believes Greece will provide a "pleasant surprise" to its fellow eurozone members in the years to come.

Promising that parliament will work all summer, he said his government would put an emphasis on the digital economy and "computerise the Greek state".

Joseph Daul, head of the European parliament's biggest political grouping, the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), said that the New Democracy government, with its pragmatic programme of reforms and investments, would help create jobs and "bring prosperity" to Greece.

Mitsotakis had telephone talks with several European leaders on Tuesday, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel who invited him to Berlin nest month, according to the Greek president's team.

As is the tradition in Greece, his first foreign trip will be to Cyprus later this month.

The new government of 51 members includes 21 technocrats.

Mitsotakis himself is the son of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, one of the country's longest-serving parliamentarians. His sister Dora Bakoyannis is a former minister and Athens's first female mayor.

And in a first even for a country accustomed to family links in politics, the recently-elected mayor of Athens is the incoming prime minister’s nephew.

Mitsotakis took charge of New Democracy three years ago. Following the election, his party will have a majority of 158 seats in the 300-member parliament.

New Democracy was last in power in 2014, in coalition with the Greek socialists.

Syriza's parliamentary presence will shrink from 144 seats to 86. Tsipras has promised to remain an "active" voice in opposition in defence of labour rights.

Greece's new conservative government was sworn in on Tuesday, a day after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis took office vowing to turn the page on a decade of economic crisis.

Greece's new conservative government was sworn in on Tuesday, a day after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis took office vowing to turn the page on a decade of economic crisis. The 51 members of the new government swore the oath of office on the Bible in a ceremony led by the Archbishop of Athens Ieronymos, in line with Greek tradition. That further underlined the break with the term of defeated leftist prime minister Alexis Tsipras, an atheist, who had taken the oath in a civil ceremony in 2015. Mitsotakis, a pro-business conservative, has vowed to ditch Tsipras's proposals to separate Church and state. Among those sworn into government on Tuesday was Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, 45, who will have a key role in Mitsotakis's pro-growth reforms. Staïkouras stressed the need "to boost growth, attract investment while reducing the tax burden on households and businesses". "There are questions which remain unresolved, but we will be working hard to reduce the uncertainties, to attract investors, to create jobs," the 45-year-old economist assured. Tsipras presided over austerity policies under Greece's third international bailout as it struggled in the global financial crisis. The US-educated Mitsotakis faces a hefty challenge as he takes over from Tsipras, who imposed austerity measures required under a bailout to keep Greece in the eurozone. Unemployment eased during his term but remains high at 18 per cent. The country's debt level stands at more than 180 per cent of output. The debt load is forecast to fall to 168 per cent of GDP this year, but only through the belt-tightening brought in under Tsipras's Syriza party, policies which Mitsotakis's New Democracy party says are stifling growth. No grace period "We don't ask for a grace period, we ask to be judged rigorously on the basis of the results of out policies," Mitsotakis said. Reducing tax levels was one of the main promises of Mitsotakis and his team during the election campaign. The day after Sunday's election victory, Eurogroup chief Mario Centeno urged the new Greek government to stick to reforms and strict public spending commitments, which were agreed with its eurozone creditors during a punishing decade of bailouts. "We must keep our commitments, this is the only way I know to gain credibility," Centeno told reporters in Brussels on the day Mitsotakis was sworn in on a promise to ease up on austerity mandated by the eurozone. The heart of the challenge is the promise made by Greece to the eurozone to deliver a budget primary surplus of 3.5 per cent for the next several years -- an extremely high bar of fiscal rectitude. The spending target is a cornerstone of the third bailout programme that Greece formally exited in August 2018 but has committed to delivering on until 2022. Also, still owing billions of euros in bailout loans, Greece remains under 'post-programme surveillance' by its creditors. 'Pleasant surprise' Perceived as a reformer, and close to the business world, Mitsotakis told the French weekly L'Obs that he believes Greece will provide a "pleasant surprise" to its fellow eurozone members in the years to come. Promising that parliament will work all summer, he said his government would put an emphasis on the digital economy and "computerise the Greek state". Joseph Daul, head of the European parliament's biggest political grouping, the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), said that the New Democracy government, with its pragmatic programme of reforms and investments, would help create jobs and "bring prosperity" to Greece. Mitsotakis had telephone talks with several European leaders on Tuesday, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel who invited him to Berlin nest month, according to the Greek president's team. As is the tradition in Greece, his first foreign trip will be to Cyprus later this month. The new government of 51 members includes 21 technocrats. Mitsotakis himself is the son of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, one of the country's longest-serving parliamentarians. His sister Dora Bakoyannis is a former minister and Athens's first female mayor. And in a first even for a country accustomed to family links in politics, the recently-elected mayor of Athens is the incoming prime minister’s nephew. Mitsotakis took charge of New Democracy three years ago. Following the election, his party will have a majority of 158 seats in the 300-member parliament. New Democracy was last in power in 2014, in coalition with the Greek socialists. Syriza's parliamentary presence will shrink from 144 seats to 86. Tsipras has promised to remain an "active" voice in opposition in defence of labour rights.

Greek conservative government sworn in

Greece's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-polls-opposition-leader-kyriakos-mitsotakis-wins-vows-to-make-country-proud-233849">conservative prime minister-elect Kyriakos Mitsotakis</a> vowed that the country would "proudly" enter a post-bailout period of "jobs, security and growth" after winning a landslide victory in Sunday's general election.

Official results showed Mitsotakis on track to crush <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greek-conservatives-take-strong-lead-in-exit-poll-233844">leftist premier Alexis Tsipras</a>, who oversaw austerity measures after Greece's dramatic rescue by international creditors in the European debt crisis.

"A painful cycle has closed," Mitsotakis said in a televised address, adding that Greece would "proudly raise its head again" on his watch.

"I will not fail to honour your hopes," he said as early congratulation calls came from outgoing European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/istanbul-awaits-election-verdict-on-erdogan-and-turkish-democracy-229788">Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a>.

With official results from 94 per cent of polling stations, New Democracy scored a crushing victory by nearly 40 per cent its best score in over a decade to 31.5 per cent for Tsipras's leftist Syriza party.

"I want to see this person prosper. I want to see the children who left to return," he later told party supporters.

Mitsotakis will be sworn in as Greece's new prime minister on Monday.

Tsipras had earlier admitted defeat after over four years in power that saw Greece emerge from its third bailout.

The 44-year-old warned that his Syriza party would "dynamically" resist efforts to scale back the party's pro-labour reforms.

If the results are confirmed, the 51-year-old Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant Mitsotakis will have a majority of 158 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament. Tsipras's party will have 86 seats.

The final number will depend on how smaller parties fare. They need at least 3.0 per cent of the vote to enter parliament.

&nbsp;A family affair&nbsp;

New Democracy was last in power in 2014, in coalition with the Greek socialists.

Mitsotakis is a scion of one of Greece's top political families.

He is the son of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, one of the country's longest-serving parliamentarians.&nbsp;

His sister is former minister Dora Bakoyannis, Athens's first female mayor. And new Athens mayor Costas Bakoyannis, elected in May, is his nephew.

Sunday's election was Greece's third in as many months and the first held in midsummer since 1928.

In May, New Democracy beat Syriza by nearly 9.5 points in European parliament elections. A week later, it completed a near-sweep of Greek regions in local elections.

After that, Tsipras was forced to call an early general election. His term was scheduled to end in the autumn.

'Chance to recover'&nbsp;

Greece's youngest premier in more than a century, Tsipras had trailed in the polls for months amid widespread dissatisfaction over high taxes.

"Greece is exiting 10 years of crisis and the new government will have the heavy task to give a chance to the country to recover completely or to sink", 36-year-old Aphrodite told AFP, as she cast her vote in the bohemian downtown Athens neighbourhood of Exarcheia.

"I hope that from tomorrow we will be able to breathe with relief. To take a deep breath, if Mitsotakis does what he promises," added Athinodoros, a 48-year-old self-employed worker.

Tsipras has accused Mitsotakis who was part of a 2012-2014 crisis government of "disastrous" mismanagement that brought hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures.

Mitsotakis has now pledged to create "better" jobs through growth, foreign investment and tax cuts and to "steamroll" obstacles to business.

Tsipras who reduced unemployment and raised the minimum wage for the first time since 2012 was criticized for campaigning as an anti-austerity crusader before eventually accepting a third EU bailout and the economic cutbacks that entailed.

In parts of the country, there was also a backlash against a controversial agreement with North Macedonia that ended a bitter 27-year dispute over the country's name.

New parties&nbsp;

The new smaller parties fighting to secure representation are Greek Solution, a nationalist party formed by TV salesman Kyriakos Velopoulos, and MeRA25, an anti-austerity party founded by maverick economist and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis.

According to the exit polls, Varoufakis's party could elect nine lawmakers.

Greek Solution could end up with 10 deputies, while neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn looks likely to be shut out of parliament for the first time since 2012.

Golden Dawn, until recently Greece's third-ranking party, is in steep decline amid an ongoing trial for the 2013 murder of an anti-fascist rapper, allegedly carried out with the knowledge of senior Golden Dawn members.

Mitsotakis has promised to hit the ground running. A Eurogroup finance meeting on Monday will convene to discuss the state of Greece's economy after tax cuts rolled out by Tsipras in May. 
&nbsp;

Greece's conservative prime minister-elect Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed that the country would "proudly" enter a post-bailout period of "jobs, security and growth" after winning a landslide victory in Sunday's general election.

Greece's conservative prime minister-elect Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed that the country would "proudly" enter a post-bailout period of "jobs, security and growth" after winning a landslide victory in Sunday's general election. Official results showed Mitsotakis on track to crush leftist premier Alexis Tsipras, who oversaw austerity measures after Greece's dramatic rescue by international creditors in the European debt crisis. "A painful cycle has closed," Mitsotakis said in a televised address, adding that Greece would "proudly raise its head again" on his watch. "I will not fail to honour your hopes," he said as early congratulation calls came from outgoing European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. With official results from 94 per cent of polling stations, New Democracy scored a crushing victory by nearly 40 per cent its best score in over a decade to 31.5 per cent for Tsipras's leftist Syriza party. "I want to see this person prosper. I want to see the children who left to return," he later told party supporters. Mitsotakis will be sworn in as Greece's new prime minister on Monday. Tsipras had earlier admitted defeat after over four years in power that saw Greece emerge from its third bailout. The 44-year-old warned that his Syriza party would "dynamically" resist efforts to scale back the party's pro-labour reforms. If the results are confirmed, the 51-year-old Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant Mitsotakis will have a majority of 158 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament. Tsipras's party will have 86 seats. The final number will depend on how smaller parties fare. They need at least 3.0 per cent of the vote to enter parliament. A family affair New Democracy was last in power in 2014, in coalition with the Greek socialists. Mitsotakis is a scion of one of Greece's top political families. He is the son of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, one of the country's longest-serving parliamentarians. His sister is former minister Dora Bakoyannis, Athens's first female mayor. And new Athens mayor Costas Bakoyannis, elected in May, is his nephew. Sunday's election was Greece's third in as many months and the first held in midsummer since 1928. In May, New Democracy beat Syriza by nearly 9.5 points in European parliament elections. A week later, it completed a near-sweep of Greek regions in local elections. After that, Tsipras was forced to call an early general election. His term was scheduled to end in the autumn. 'Chance to recover' Greece's youngest premier in more than a century, Tsipras had trailed in the polls for months amid widespread dissatisfaction over high taxes. "Greece is exiting 10 years of crisis and the new government will have the heavy task to give a chance to the country to recover completely or to sink", 36-year-old Aphrodite told AFP, as she cast her vote in the bohemian downtown Athens neighbourhood of Exarcheia. "I hope that from tomorrow we will be able to breathe with relief. To take a deep breath, if Mitsotakis does what he promises," added Athinodoros, a 48-year-old self-employed worker. Tsipras has accused Mitsotakis who was part of a 2012-2014 crisis government of "disastrous" mismanagement that brought hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures. Mitsotakis has now pledged to create "better" jobs through growth, foreign investment and tax cuts and to "steamroll" obstacles to business. Tsipras who reduced unemployment and raised the minimum wage for the first time since 2012 was criticized for campaigning as an anti-austerity crusader before eventually accepting a third EU bailout and the economic cutbacks that entailed. In parts of the country, there was also a backlash against a controversial agreement with North Macedonia that ended a bitter 27-year dispute over the country's name. New parties The new smaller parties fighting to secure representation are Greek Solution, a nationalist party formed by TV salesman Kyriakos Velopoulos, and MeRA25, an anti-austerity party founded by maverick economist and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis. According to the exit polls, Varoufakis's party could elect nine lawmakers. Greek Solution could end up with 10 deputies, while neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn looks likely to be shut out of parliament for the first time since 2012. Golden Dawn, until recently Greece's third-ranking party, is in steep decline amid an ongoing trial for the 2013 murder of an anti-fascist rapper, allegedly carried out with the knowledge of senior Golden Dawn members. Mitsotakis has promised to hit the ground running. A Eurogroup finance meeting on Monday will convene to discuss the state of Greece's economy after tax cuts rolled out by Tsipras in May.

Painful cycle has closed, says Greek PM-elect Mitsotakis after landslide victory in polls

Conservative opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis won Greece’s elections Sunday, delivering a stinging blow to leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Watch full video to know more.

Greece Election: Conservatives rise to power as Tsipras concedes defeat

Greece's incoming prime minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-polls-opposition-leader-kyriakos-mitsotakis-wins-vows-to-make-country-proud-233849">Kyriakos Mitsotakis</a> is a hard-nosed reformer from a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greek-conservatives-take-strong-lead-in-exit-poll-233844">conservative political dynasty</a> with controversial civil service job cuts on his resume.

Three years after taking over the leadership of the conservative New Democracy party once headed by his father, the 51-year-old Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant have promised to "steamroll" obstacles to business.

"The people must entrust the helm of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polls-open-in-greeces-first-post-bailout-general-election-233710">Greece</a> to a strong hand," he said on the campaign trail.

And on election night after winning a landslide victory, he vowed that Greece would "proudly" enter a post-bailout period of "jobs, security, and growth".

"A painful cycle has closed," Mitsotakis said in a televised address, adding that Greece would "proudly raise its head again" on his watch

His critics argue that his pro-business platform and promised tax cuts can only credibly come at the expense of social benefits to crisis-hit families.

In his sole ministerial stint in charge of administrative reform in 2014, he was tasked with eliminating 15,000 civil service posts under pressure from Greece's creditors.

The downsising was cut short by-elections, but Mitsotakis's tag as a hatchet man has endured.

During the campaign, Mitsotakis told AFP his priority would be to "restart" the economy.

"Greece will restore ambitious growth driven by private investments, exports, and innovation. All our energy is focused in that direction."

He also wants to renegotiate Greece's tight fiscal targets in talks with the country's international creditors.

"If we present a comprehensive reforms package, (the creditors) will be open to a discussion that will gradually lower Greece's primary surpluses, which everybody acknowledges are too high," he says.&nbsp;

"And it will benefit both Europeans and the Greek economy," he adds.

Outgoing PM Alexis Tsipras has warned that his successor would unleash "Armageddon" on workers.

"When Mitsotakis says reforms... it entails human blood... he has personally fired thousands," Tsipras told CNN Greece on June 22.

"The (2012-2015) government he was part of wiped out the middle class," he said.

Fearful of alienating Greek civil servants and their families who account for a hefty percentage of the electorate Mitsotakis has been forced to publicly abjure further civil servant layoffs.

"No civil servants will be fired... but this does not mean we will be taking on more than we need... I will not tolerate pointless hirings," he told Star TV in June.

'Judge me not by my name'&nbsp;

Mitsotakis has long struggled to shake off his elitist image.&nbsp;

In a country with a long tradition of nepotism, Mitsotakis swears by meritocracy and has vowed not to put any relatives in his cabinet.

But few people in Greece have a pedigree as exclusive as his.

He is the son of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, one of the country's longest-serving parliamentarians. His sister is former minister Dora Bakoyannis, Athens' first female mayor. And new Athens mayor Costas Bakoyannis, elected in May, is his nephew.

Since 2016, when he ran as a candidate for the leadership of New Democracy, Mitsotakis has consistently fought to distance himself from his status as a member of Greece's leading political dynasty and he considers himself a "maverick". "Judge me by my CV, not by my name," he insists.

Far-right transfers&nbsp;

Mitsotakis has sought to modernize the party, casting a wide net for candidates under the age of 40 and pledging to govern with people of "my generation or younger."

But leftist critics say Mitsotakis has turned New Democracy into a "hybrid" of nationalism and extreme neoliberalism in an unholy alliance to keep internal party balances intact.

Immediately after his election in 2016, the new leader raised eyebrows by naming Adonis Georgiadis, a recent transfer from the far-right LAOS party, as deputy chairman.

A firebrand TV book salesman, Georgiadis publicly apologized in 2017 for energetically promoting an anti-Semitic tome on his shows as "dynamite" and "my favourite book."

Another recently-arrived LAOS cadre who once headed a pro-Greek junta youth group, the lawyer Makis Voridis, was named shadow interior minister by Mitsotakis.

Before joining LAOS, Voridis had headed the Hellenic Front, a short-lived party with close links to the far-right National Front party in France.

Mitsotakis is given credit for restoring the fortunes of New Democracy, a demoralised party that had lost three successive elections to the charismatic Tsipras in the last five years.

"Citizens put their trust in us not only for our basic promises, to reduce taxes and to create good jobs and security for all, but for a different ethos and style of power," Mitsotakis said after winning European Parliament elections in May by a margin of nearly 9.5 points.&nbsp;

A basketball lover, Mitsotakis has three children with Mareva Grabowski, a co-founder of luxury clothes label Zeus+Dione.&nbsp;

Greece's incoming prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is a hard-nosed reformer from a conservative political dynasty with controversial civil service job cuts on his resume.

Greece's incoming prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is a hard-nosed reformer from a conservative political dynasty with controversial civil service job cuts on his resume. Three years after taking over the leadership of the conservative New Democracy party once headed by his father, the 51-year-old Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant have promised to "steamroll" obstacles to business. "The people must entrust the helm of Greece to a strong hand," he said on the campaign trail. And on election night after winning a landslide victory, he vowed that Greece would "proudly" enter a post-bailout period of "jobs, security, and growth". "A painful cycle has closed," Mitsotakis said in a televised address, adding that Greece would "proudly raise its head again" on his watch His critics argue that his pro-business platform and promised tax cuts can only credibly come at the expense of social benefits to crisis-hit families. In his sole ministerial stint in charge of administrative reform in 2014, he was tasked with eliminating 15,000 civil service posts under pressure from Greece's creditors. The downsising was cut short by-elections, but Mitsotakis's tag as a hatchet man has endured. During the campaign, Mitsotakis told AFP his priority would be to "restart" the economy. "Greece will restore ambitious growth driven by private investments, exports, and innovation. All our energy is focused in that direction." He also wants to renegotiate Greece's tight fiscal targets in talks with the country's international creditors. "If we present a comprehensive reforms package, (the creditors) will be open to a discussion that will gradually lower Greece's primary surpluses, which everybody acknowledges are too high," he says. "And it will benefit both Europeans and the Greek economy," he adds. Outgoing PM Alexis Tsipras has warned that his successor would unleash "Armageddon" on workers. "When Mitsotakis says reforms... it entails human blood... he has personally fired thousands," Tsipras told CNN Greece on June 22. "The (2012-2015) government he was part of wiped out the middle class," he said. Fearful of alienating Greek civil servants and their families who account for a hefty percentage of the electorate Mitsotakis has been forced to publicly abjure further civil servant layoffs. "No civil servants will be fired... but this does not mean we will be taking on more than we need... I will not tolerate pointless hirings," he told Star TV in June. 'Judge me not by my name' Mitsotakis has long struggled to shake off his elitist image. In a country with a long tradition of nepotism, Mitsotakis swears by meritocracy and has vowed not to put any relatives in his cabinet. But few people in Greece have a pedigree as exclusive as his. He is the son of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, one of the country's longest-serving parliamentarians. His sister is former minister Dora Bakoyannis, Athens' first female mayor. And new Athens mayor Costas Bakoyannis, elected in May, is his nephew. Since 2016, when he ran as a candidate for the leadership of New Democracy, Mitsotakis has consistently fought to distance himself from his status as a member of Greece's leading political dynasty and he considers himself a "maverick". "Judge me by my CV, not by my name," he insists. Far-right transfers Mitsotakis has sought to modernize the party, casting a wide net for candidates under the age of 40 and pledging to govern with people of "my generation or younger." But leftist critics say Mitsotakis has turned New Democracy into a "hybrid" of nationalism and extreme neoliberalism in an unholy alliance to keep internal party balances intact. Immediately after his election in 2016, the new leader raised eyebrows by naming Adonis Georgiadis, a recent transfer from the far-right LAOS party, as deputy chairman. A firebrand TV book salesman, Georgiadis publicly apologized in 2017 for energetically promoting an anti-Semitic tome on his shows as "dynamite" and "my favourite book." Another recently-arrived LAOS cadre who once headed a pro-Greek junta youth group, the lawyer Makis Voridis, was named shadow interior minister by Mitsotakis. Before joining LAOS, Voridis had headed the Hellenic Front, a short-lived party with close links to the far-right National Front party in France. Mitsotakis is given credit for restoring the fortunes of New Democracy, a demoralised party that had lost three successive elections to the charismatic Tsipras in the last five years. "Citizens put their trust in us not only for our basic promises, to reduce taxes and to create good jobs and security for all, but for a different ethos and style of power," Mitsotakis said after winning European Parliament elections in May by a margin of nearly 9.5 points. A basketball lover, Mitsotakis has three children with Mareva Grabowski, a co-founder of luxury clothes label Zeus+Dione.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece's pro-business 'steamroller'

Greece's conservative prime minister-elect Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed that the country would "proudly" enter a post-bailout period of "jobs, security and growth" after winning a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-things-to-know-about-greeces-july-7-vote-233712">landslide victory in Sunday's general election</a>.

Official results showed Mitsotakis on track to crush leftist premier Alexis Tsipras, who oversaw austerity measures after Greece's dramatic rescue by international creditors in the European debt crisis.

"A painful cycle has closed," Mitsotakis said in a televised address, adding that Greece would "proudly raise its head again" on his watch.

"I will not fail to honour your hopes," he said as early congratulation calls came from outgoing European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

With official results from 94 per cent of polling stations, New Democracy scored a crushing victory by nearly 40 per cent -- its best score in over a decade -- to 31.5 per cent for Tsipras's leftist Syriza party.

"I want to see this people prosper. I want to see the children who left to return," he later told party supporters.

Mitsotakis will be sworn in as Greece's new prime minister on Monday.

Tsipras had earlier admitted defeat after over four years in power that saw Greece emerge from its third bailout.

The 44-year-old warned that his Syriza party would "dynamically" resist efforts to scale back the party's pro-labour reforms.

If the results are confirmed, the 51-year-old Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant Mitsotakis will have a majority of 158 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament. Tsipras's party will have 86 seats.

The final number will depend on how smaller parties fare. They need at least 3.0 per cent of the vote to enter parliament.

A family affair

New Democracy was last in power in 2014, in coalition with the Greek socialists.

Mitsotakis is a scion of one of Greece's top political families.

He is the son of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, one of the country's longest-serving parliamentarians.&nbsp;

His sister is former minister Dora Bakoyannis, Athens's first female mayor. And new Athens mayor Costas Bakoyannis, elected in May, is his nephew.

Sunday's election was Greece's third in as many months, and the first held in midsummer since 1928.

In May, New Democracy beat Syriza by nearly 9.5 points in European parliament elections. A week later, it completed a near-sweep of Greek regions in local elections.

After that, Tsipras was forced to call an early general election. His term was scheduled to end in the autumn.

'Chance to recover'

Greece's youngest premier in more than a century, Tsipras had trailed in the polls for months amid widespread dissatisfaction over high taxes.

"Greece is exiting 10 years of crisis and the new government will have the heavy task to give a chance to the country to recover completely or to sink", 36-year-old Aphrodite told AFP, as she cast her vote in the bohemian downtown Athens neighbourhood of Exarcheia.

"I hope that from tomorrow we will be able to breathe with relief. To take a deep breath, if Mitsotakis does what he promises," added Athinodoros, a 48-year-old self-employed worker.

Tsipras has accused Mitsotakis -- who was part of a 2012-2014 crisis government -- of "disastrous" mismanagement that brought hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures.

Mitsotakis has now pledged to create "better" jobs through growth, foreign investment and tax cuts and to "steamroll" obstacles to business.

Tsipras -- who reduced unemployment and raised the minimum wage for the first time since 2012 -- was criticised for campaigning as an anti-austerity crusader before eventually accepting a third EU bailout and the economic cutbacks that entailed.

In parts of the country, there was also a backlash against a controversial agreement with North Macedonia that ended a bitter 27-year dispute over the country's name.

New parties

The new smaller parties fighting to secure representation are Greek Solution, a nationalist party formed by TV salesman Kyriakos Velopoulos, and MeRA25, an anti-austerity party founded by maverick economist and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis.

According to the exit polls, Varoufakis's party could elect nine lawmakers.

Greek Solution could end up with 10 deputies, while neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn looks likely to be shut out of parliament for the first time since 2012.

Golden Dawn, until recently Greece's third-ranking party, is in steep decline amid an ongoing trial for the 2013 murder of an anti-fascist rapper, allegedly carried out with the knowledge of senior Golden Dawn members.

Mitsotakis has promised to hit the ground running. A Eurogroup finance meeting on Monday will convene to discuss the state of Greece's economy after tax cuts rolled out by Tsipras in May.

Greece's conservative prime minister-elect Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed that the country would "proudly" enter a post-bailout period of "jobs, security and growth" after winning a landslide victory in Sunday's general election. Official results showed Mitsotakis on track to crush leftist premier Alexis Tsipras, who oversaw austerity measures after Greece's dramatic rescue by international creditors in the European debt crisis. "A painful cycle has closed," Mitsotakis said in a televised address, adding that Greece would "proudly raise its head again" on his watch. "I will not fail to honour your hopes," he said as early congratulation calls came from outgoing European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. With official results from 94 per cent of polling stations, New Democracy scored a crushing victory by nearly 40 per cent -- its best score in over a decade -- to 31.5 per cent for Tsipras's leftist Syriza party. "I want to see this people prosper. I want to see the children who left to return," he later told party supporters. Mitsotakis will be sworn in as Greece's new prime minister on Monday. Tsipras had earlier admitted defeat after over four years in power that saw Greece emerge from its third bailout. The 44-year-old warned that his Syriza party would "dynamically" resist efforts to scale back the party's pro-labour reforms. If the results are confirmed, the 51-year-old Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant Mitsotakis will have a majority of 158 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament. Tsipras's party will have 86 seats. The final number will depend on how smaller parties fare. They need at least 3.0 per cent of the vote to enter parliament. A family affair New Democracy was last in power in 2014, in coalition with the Greek socialists. Mitsotakis is a scion of one of Greece's top political families. He is the son of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, one of the country's longest-serving parliamentarians. His sister is former minister Dora Bakoyannis, Athens's first female mayor. And new Athens mayor Costas Bakoyannis, elected in May, is his nephew. Sunday's election was Greece's third in as many months, and the first held in midsummer since 1928. In May, New Democracy beat Syriza by nearly 9.5 points in European parliament elections. A week later, it completed a near-sweep of Greek regions in local elections. After that, Tsipras was forced to call an early general election. His term was scheduled to end in the autumn. 'Chance to recover' Greece's youngest premier in more than a century, Tsipras had trailed in the polls for months amid widespread dissatisfaction over high taxes. "Greece is exiting 10 years of crisis and the new government will have the heavy task to give a chance to the country to recover completely or to sink", 36-year-old Aphrodite told AFP, as she cast her vote in the bohemian downtown Athens neighbourhood of Exarcheia. "I hope that from tomorrow we will be able to breathe with relief. To take a deep breath, if Mitsotakis does what he promises," added Athinodoros, a 48-year-old self-employed worker. Tsipras has accused Mitsotakis -- who was part of a 2012-2014 crisis government -- of "disastrous" mismanagement that brought hundreds of thousands of job losses and business failures. Mitsotakis has now pledged to create "better" jobs through growth, foreign investment and tax cuts and to "steamroll" obstacles to business. Tsipras -- who reduced unemployment and raised the minimum wage for the first time since 2012 -- was criticised for campaigning as an anti-austerity crusader before eventually accepting a third EU bailout and the economic cutbacks that entailed. In parts of the country, there was also a backlash against a controversial agreement with North Macedonia that ended a bitter 27-year dispute over the country's name. New parties The new smaller parties fighting to secure representation are Greek Solution, a nationalist party formed by TV salesman Kyriakos Velopoulos, and MeRA25, an anti-austerity party founded by maverick economist and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis. According to the exit polls, Varoufakis's party could elect nine lawmakers. Greek Solution could end up with 10 deputies, while neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn looks likely to be shut out of parliament for the first time since 2012. Golden Dawn, until recently Greece's third-ranking party, is in steep decline amid an ongoing trial for the 2013 murder of an anti-fascist rapper, allegedly carried out with the knowledge of senior Golden Dawn members. Mitsotakis has promised to hit the ground running. A Eurogroup finance meeting on Monday will convene to discuss the state of Greece's economy after tax cuts rolled out by Tsipras in May.

Greece polls: Opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis wins, vows to make country 'proud'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-polls-opposition-leader-kyriakos-mitsotakis-wins-vows-to-make-country-proud-233849">Greece's new prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis</a>, formally takes up the reins Monday, a day after an election victory that puts him in charge of the EU's most indebted member with promises to end a decade of economic crisis.

The challenge facing the US-educated conservative is a hefty one as he takes over from defeated left-wing leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greek-conservatives-take-strong-lead-in-exit-poll-233844">Alexis Tsipras</a>, who imposed austerity measures required under a bailout to keep Greece in the eurozone.

The country's public debt last year stood at 335 billion euros ($376 billion), or 180 per cent of GDP.&nbsp;

The debt load is forecast to fall to 168 per cent of GDP this year, but only under belt-tightening brought in under Tsipras's Syriza party something that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-things-to-know-about-greeces-july-7-vote-233712">Mitsotakis's New Democracy party</a> says is stifling growth.

The tricky job of keeping Greece's international creditors onside while easing the hardship on Greeks by lowering taxes and renegotiating fiscal targets could result in a short honeymoon phase for Mitsotakis.

'Message for change'&nbsp;

The 51-year-old Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant have pledged to create jobs and get rid of obstacles to business.

Those pledges wooed Greek voters, who handed him 40 per cent of the votes in Sunday's election, well ahead of the 31.5 per cent given to Tsipras.

"It's a strong message for a change in Greece," Mitsotakis told the channel CNBC.

Last week he told AFP that he saw it as his mission "to make sure we restart the economy" with "ambitious growth driven by private investments, exports, and innovation".

He predicted that he could persuade Greece's creditors to accept the easing of tight fiscal targets if "a comprehensive reforms package" was presented.

Tsipras, for his part, warned that Mitsotakis would do away with the social spending he brought in to help Greece's vulnerable groups.

He portrayed the Mitsotakis family -- one of Greece's leading political dynasties -- as part of a failed system that bankrupted the country in 2010, which he blamed for the humiliating bailout.

Son of a PM&nbsp;

Mitsotakis is the son of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, one of the country's longest-serving parliamentarians. His sister Dora Bakoyannis is a former minister and Athens's first female mayor.&nbsp;

He took charge of the New Democrats three years ago. Following the election, his party will have a majority of 158 seats in the 300-member parliament.

New Democracy was last in power in 2014, in coalition with the Greek socialists.

Syriza's parliamentary presence will shrink from 144 seats to 86. Tsipras has promised to remain an "active" voice in opposition.

Sunday's election was Greece's third in as many months.

In May, New Democracy beat Syriza by nearly 9.5 points in European parliament elections. A week later, it completed a near-sweep of Greek regions in local elections. After that, Tsipras was forced to call an early general election.

"A painful cycle has closed," Mitsotakis said in a televised address immediately following his electoral victory, adding that Greece would "proudly raise its head again" on his watch. 
&nbsp;

Greece's new prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, formally takes up the reins Monday, a day after an election victory that puts him in charge of the EU's most indebted member with promises to end a decade of economic crisis.

Greece's new prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, formally takes up the reins Monday, a day after an election victory that puts him in charge of the EU's most indebted member with promises to end a decade of economic crisis. The challenge facing the US-educated conservative is a hefty one as he takes over from defeated left-wing leader Alexis Tsipras, who imposed austerity measures required under a bailout to keep Greece in the eurozone. The country's public debt last year stood at 335 billion euros ($376 billion), or 180 per cent of GDP. The debt load is forecast to fall to 168 per cent of GDP this year, but only under belt-tightening brought in under Tsipras's Syriza party something that Mitsotakis's New Democracy party says is stifling growth. The tricky job of keeping Greece's international creditors onside while easing the hardship on Greeks by lowering taxes and renegotiating fiscal targets could result in a short honeymoon phase for Mitsotakis. 'Message for change' The 51-year-old Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant have pledged to create jobs and get rid of obstacles to business. Those pledges wooed Greek voters, who handed him 40 per cent of the votes in Sunday's election, well ahead of the 31.5 per cent given to Tsipras. "It's a strong message for a change in Greece," Mitsotakis told the channel CNBC. Last week he told AFP that he saw it as his mission "to make sure we restart the economy" with "ambitious growth driven by private investments, exports, and innovation". He predicted that he could persuade Greece's creditors to accept the easing of tight fiscal targets if "a comprehensive reforms package" was presented. Tsipras, for his part, warned that Mitsotakis would do away with the social spending he brought in to help Greece's vulnerable groups. He portrayed the Mitsotakis family -- one of Greece's leading political dynasties -- as part of a failed system that bankrupted the country in 2010, which he blamed for the humiliating bailout. Son of a PM Mitsotakis is the son of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, one of the country's longest-serving parliamentarians. His sister Dora Bakoyannis is a former minister and Athens's first female mayor. He took charge of the New Democrats three years ago. Following the election, his party will have a majority of 158 seats in the 300-member parliament. New Democracy was last in power in 2014, in coalition with the Greek socialists. Syriza's parliamentary presence will shrink from 144 seats to 86. Tsipras has promised to remain an "active" voice in opposition. Sunday's election was Greece's third in as many months. In May, New Democracy beat Syriza by nearly 9.5 points in European parliament elections. A week later, it completed a near-sweep of Greek regions in local elections. After that, Tsipras was forced to call an early general election. "A painful cycle has closed," Mitsotakis said in a televised address immediately following his electoral victory, adding that Greece would "proudly raise its head again" on his watch.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis becomes Greece's new Prime Minister on vow to end economic crisis

Greece's opposition conservatives were on track to return to power by a landslide on Sunday, exit polls suggested, unseating incumbent leftists blamed for pushing the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polls-open-in-greeces-first-post-bailout-general-election-233710">crisis-hit country further into debt</a>.

Two exit polls gave conservative New Democracy a commanding led of between 38 and 42 per cent of the vote, suggesting an outright majority in Greece's parliament.

One of the exit polls showed New Democracy, led by opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, winning between 155 and 167 seats in the 300 member parliament. If verified, it would be the widest margin of victory for a Greek party since 1981.

"Greece has signalled to Europe that it is time to put populism behind us," said Anna Michelle Asimakopoulou, a senior lawmaker with New Democracy.

One official of ruling Syriza, Panos Skourletis, appeared to concede defeat, saying the gap shown in the exit polls was unlikely to be overturned.

"We have a clear victory for New Democracy. We will wait to see how they will utilize it," Panos Skourletis told state TV.

Sunday's poll was the first national election since the country shook off close scrutiny by its European partners who loaned Greece billions in three bailouts.

Incumbent Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras signed up to the latest, in 2015, in return for potential debt relief.

Snap election

"The basic reason (for the result) is the economy," said analyst Theodore Couloumbis. "In the past 4.5 years people saw no improvement, on the contrary, there were cutbacks in salaries and pensions," he said.

The snap election was called after Syriza suffered a defeat in European elections in May.

Greece endured a debilitating financial crisis from 2010 that required three cash lifelines from its eurozone partners.

"I want the government that will be elected to do its best for the people, who are hungry," said pensioner Christos Mpekos, 69. "To give jobs to the young so they don't leave."

Tsipras says that a vote cast for Mitsotakis would go to the political establishment, which forced Greece to the edge of the precipice in the first place.

But he has also been roundly criticised for mismanagement of crises and for brokering a deeply unpopular deal to end a dispute over the name of neighbouring North Macedonia.

Greece wrapped up its last economic adjustment programme in 2018 but remains under surveillance from lenders to ensure no future fiscal slippage. While economic growth has returned, Greek unemployment of 18 per cent is the euro zone's highest.

New Democracy has promised to invest in creating well-paid jobs with decent benefits. It has also promised to be tough on crime in some neighbourhoods of Athens where there is a strong anarchist movement.

In one neighbourhood, activists stormed a polling station and made off with a ballot box.

Greece's opposition conservatives were on track to return to power by a landslide on Sunday, exit polls suggested, unseating incumbent leftists blamed for pushing the crisis-hit country further into debt.

Greece's opposition conservatives were on track to return to power by a landslide on Sunday, exit polls suggested, unseating incumbent leftists blamed for pushing the crisis-hit country further into debt. Two exit polls gave conservative New Democracy a commanding led of between 38 and 42 per cent of the vote, suggesting an outright majority in Greece's parliament. One of the exit polls showed New Democracy, led by opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, winning between 155 and 167 seats in the 300 member parliament. If verified, it would be the widest margin of victory for a Greek party since 1981. "Greece has signalled to Europe that it is time to put populism behind us," said Anna Michelle Asimakopoulou, a senior lawmaker with New Democracy. One official of ruling Syriza, Panos Skourletis, appeared to concede defeat, saying the gap shown in the exit polls was unlikely to be overturned. "We have a clear victory for New Democracy. We will wait to see how they will utilize it," Panos Skourletis told state TV. Sunday's poll was the first national election since the country shook off close scrutiny by its European partners who loaned Greece billions in three bailouts. Incumbent Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras signed up to the latest, in 2015, in return for potential debt relief. Snap election "The basic reason (for the result) is the economy," said analyst Theodore Couloumbis. "In the past 4.5 years people saw no improvement, on the contrary, there were cutbacks in salaries and pensions," he said. The snap election was called after Syriza suffered a defeat in European elections in May. Greece endured a debilitating financial crisis from 2010 that required three cash lifelines from its eurozone partners. "I want the government that will be elected to do its best for the people, who are hungry," said pensioner Christos Mpekos, 69. "To give jobs to the young so they don't leave." Tsipras says that a vote cast for Mitsotakis would go to the political establishment, which forced Greece to the edge of the precipice in the first place. But he has also been roundly criticised for mismanagement of crises and for brokering a deeply unpopular deal to end a dispute over the name of neighbouring North Macedonia. Greece wrapped up its last economic adjustment programme in 2018 but remains under surveillance from lenders to ensure no future fiscal slippage. While economic growth has returned, Greek unemployment of 18 per cent is the euro zone's highest. New Democracy has promised to invest in creating well-paid jobs with decent benefits. It has also promised to be tough on crime in some neighbourhoods of Athens where there is a strong anarchist movement. In one neighbourhood, activists stormed a polling station and made off with a ballot box.

Greece's opposition conservatives on track to return to power by a landslide

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polls-open-in-greeces-first-post-bailout-general-election-233710">Greeks head to the polls on Sunday</a> in a snap ballot that could bring an end to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's leftist government.

Here are five things to know about the vote, the third in Greece since May following European and local elections.

Greeks likely to abstain

Greece's third election in as many months is unlikely to set participation records, even more so as July 7 is right at the heart of the busy tourist season.

Voting is officially compulsory in Greece and abstention is theoretically punishable by law, but the penalty is never applied.

In May, fewer than 59 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots for the European Parliament and the first round of local and regional elections. A week later, participation fell below 42 per cent for the second round.

Will there be a stable government?

The memory of political instability in Greece at the height of the economic crisis is still recent. In 2011, the government collapsed and a few months later, back-to-back elections had to be held before a coalition administration could be pieced together.

The current electoral law gives a 50-seat bonus to the winning party, in principle enough to form a majority in the 300-seat parliament.

But if more than six parties enter parliament -- which is a possibility -- the winner may end up with a majority of just a few seats.

The conservative New Democracy party is heavily favoured to win, after a near-sweep in regional elections and a victory margin of over nine points in European parliament elections.

In that case, the conservatives could govern alone or alongside the socialist Kinal party in a repeat of the 2012 coalition.

But if the July 7 election fails to produce a government, a new electoral law will kick in without the 50-seat bonus, making uneasy alliances imperative.

Parties need at least three per cent of the vote to enter parliament.

Communists vote, rain or shine

The Communist KKE party, which turned 100 last year, has some of the country's most faithful supporters. It picked up 302,000 votes in the European Parliament elections, nearly the same amount garnered in national elections four years ago.

They also secured the re-election of a Communist mayor in Patras, Greece's third largest city.

Shifting sands of far-right

After a near-decade rise to the ranks of Greece's third most popular party, the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn suffered major losses in the last two voting campaigns, shedding half its electoral support.

Into the gap stepped Greek Solution, a new nationalist, pro-Russian party formed by journalist and TV salesman Kyriakos Velopoulos.

Out of the blue, Greek Solution won 4.18 per cent of the vote and a seat in the European parliament.

A former far-right lawmaker, Velopoulos scored well especially in the north of the country, where there is anger at Tsipras's deal with Macedonian prime minister Zoran Zaev to rename the neighbouring country North Macedonia.

Velopoulos has made no secret of his desire to attract Golden Dawn voters. Together, the two parties account for around nine per cent of the Greek electorate.

Crisis gloom&nbsp;

Greece is struggling to recover from a near-decade-long debt crisis and a deep six-year recession. It emerged from its third straight bailout last year, but with a public debt of over 180 per cent of output, it remains under strict supervision by its EU and IMF creditors.

Greeks head to the polls on Sunday in a snap ballot that could bring an end to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's leftist government. Here are five things to know about the vote, the third in Greece since May following European and local elections.

Greeks head to the polls on Sunday in a snap ballot that could bring an end to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's leftist government. Here are five things to know about the vote, the third in Greece since May following European and local elections. Greeks likely to abstain Greece's third election in as many months is unlikely to set participation records, even more so as July 7 is right at the heart of the busy tourist season. Voting is officially compulsory in Greece and abstention is theoretically punishable by law, but the penalty is never applied. In May, fewer than 59 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots for the European Parliament and the first round of local and regional elections. A week later, participation fell below 42 per cent for the second round. Will there be a stable government? The memory of political instability in Greece at the height of the economic crisis is still recent. In 2011, the government collapsed and a few months later, back-to-back elections had to be held before a coalition administration could be pieced together. The current electoral law gives a 50-seat bonus to the winning party, in principle enough to form a majority in the 300-seat parliament. But if more than six parties enter parliament -- which is a possibility -- the winner may end up with a majority of just a few seats. The conservative New Democracy party is heavily favoured to win, after a near-sweep in regional elections and a victory margin of over nine points in European parliament elections. In that case, the conservatives could govern alone or alongside the socialist Kinal party in a repeat of the 2012 coalition. But if the July 7 election fails to produce a government, a new electoral law will kick in without the 50-seat bonus, making uneasy alliances imperative. Parties need at least three per cent of the vote to enter parliament. Communists vote, rain or shine The Communist KKE party, which turned 100 last year, has some of the country's most faithful supporters. It picked up 302,000 votes in the European Parliament elections, nearly the same amount garnered in national elections four years ago. They also secured the re-election of a Communist mayor in Patras, Greece's third largest city. Shifting sands of far-right After a near-decade rise to the ranks of Greece's third most popular party, the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn suffered major losses in the last two voting campaigns, shedding half its electoral support. Into the gap stepped Greek Solution, a new nationalist, pro-Russian party formed by journalist and TV salesman Kyriakos Velopoulos. Out of the blue, Greek Solution won 4.18 per cent of the vote and a seat in the European parliament. A former far-right lawmaker, Velopoulos scored well especially in the north of the country, where there is anger at Tsipras's deal with Macedonian prime minister Zoran Zaev to rename the neighbouring country North Macedonia. Velopoulos has made no secret of his desire to attract Golden Dawn voters. Together, the two parties account for around nine per cent of the Greek electorate. Crisis gloom Greece is struggling to recover from a near-decade-long debt crisis and a deep six-year recession. It emerged from its third straight bailout last year, but with a public debt of over 180 per cent of output, it remains under strict supervision by its EU and IMF creditors.

Five things to know about Greece's July 7 vote

A search was underway Sunday for four suspected migrants, three of them children, believed missing after trying to cross the river Evros from Turkey into Greece, local police said.

Twelve people overall were in a dinghy that sank on Saturday. Eight of them managed to swim to safety and alerted the authorities.

The river Evros has seen increased migrant traffic since Greek and EU naval patrols intensified in the Aegean in 2016.

Migration minister Dimitris Vitsas in October said numbers had increased dramatically, from more than 3,000 in 2016 to 5,500 in 2017 and some 12,000 up to that point last year.

Migration is among the issues to be discussed during a visit to Turkey next week by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

A search was underway Sunday for four suspected migrants, three of them children, believed missing after trying to cross the river Evros from Turkey into Greece, local police said.

A search was underway Sunday for four suspected migrants, three of them children, believed missing after trying to cross the river Evros from Turkey into Greece, local police said. Twelve people overall were in a dinghy that sank on Saturday. Eight of them managed to swim to safety and alerted the authorities. The river Evros has seen increased migrant traffic since Greek and EU naval patrols intensified in the Aegean in 2016. Migration minister Dimitris Vitsas in October said numbers had increased dramatically, from more than 3,000 in 2016 to 5,500 in 2017 and some 12,000 up to that point last year. Migration is among the issues to be discussed during a visit to Turkey next week by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Three children missing as migrant boat sinks on border: Greek police

Clashes between police and a group of masked protesters left several injured in Athens on Sunday as tens of thousands demonstrated against a name change deal with neighbouring Macedonia that the Greek parliament is due to ratify in days.

The violence flared as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras attempts to face down a political storm over his championing of a landmark agreement with Macedonia aimed at ending a 27-year dispute with Athens over the country's name.

Police estimates put the number of demonstrators at 60,000 at 1200 GMT, while organisers said 100,000 people had arrived for the rally, with hundreds of buses bringing demonstrators, especially from the region of northern Greece that also claims the Macedonia name. &nbsp;

Ten police were hurt in the protests, according to the Greek citizens' protection ministry, while a first aid station said two protesters were hospitalised with breathing difficulties.

Scuffles broke out after about 30 masked youths tried to force the closure of the parliament building, throwing stones and other projectiles. Riot police responded with volleys of tear gas, dispersing the crowd outside the legislature.

The masked youths then set upon journalists at the scene, smashing the equipment of photographers and cameramen, according to an AFP reporter. &nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the government "the incidents were provoked by extremists, members of the Golden Dawn, who attempted to enter parliament".

"They attacked police with bits of wood and clubs, sending dozens of wounded to the hospital," said a statement from Tsipras.

A wide range of Greek political parties, from the far-right Golden Dawn to the Socialists, oppose the accord to rename Macedonia the Republic of North Macedonia.&nbsp;

But it could nonetheless be approved by the required 151 deputies in the 300-seat parliament in the coming days.

'Government of traitors'

Flag-waving demonstrators had created a sea of blue and white on Syntagma square near the parliament, while much of the city centre was closed to traffic and some metro stations shut as a precaution.

"There is only one Macedonia, the Greek Macedonia," read a sign in Greek and English held by Christina Gerodimoun, in her 30s, at the protests. &nbsp;

"This government is a government of traitors," she said in reference to a coalition led by Tsipras, who brokered the deal with Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev in June.

The crowd was monitored by nearly 2,000 police, equipped with drones and helicopters, a police source said.&nbsp;

Macedonia's parliament approved a constitutional revision to change the country's name 10 days ago. But for the deal between the two leaders to go through, the change must also be approved by Greek lawmakers.

Macedonia is a former Yugoslav republic, but for most Greeks, Macedonia is the name of their history-rich northern province made famous by Alexander the Great's conquests.

'Historic step'

Tsipras termed the agreement a "historic step" towards normalising relations between the two countries.

He urged "progressive forces" to support the name change, in an interview with Afghi, a daily published by his Syriza party.

Tsipras' ruling coalition fell apart over the deal a week ago, but he then narrowly won a vote of confidence, setting the stage for parliament to vote on its ratification.

Although political parties did not officially join the demonstration, some deputies turned up to express their individual positions, and Golden Dawn's website urged members to attend.

"I came out of patriotic duty," conservative representative Fotini Arabatzi from the northern district of Serres told Skai radio.

Former Greek premier Antonis Samaras said the protest was "a demonstration for democracy, for Greece and for our rights".

Clashes between police and a group of masked protesters left several injured in Athens on Sunday as tens of thousands demonstrated against a name change deal with neighbouring Macedonia that the Greek parliament is due to ratify in days.

Clashes between police and a group of masked protesters left several injured in Athens on Sunday as tens of thousands demonstrated against a name change deal with neighbouring Macedonia that the Greek parliament is due to ratify in days. The violence flared as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras attempts to face down a political storm over his championing of a landmark agreement with Macedonia aimed at ending a 27-year dispute with Athens over the country's name. Police estimates put the number of demonstrators at 60,000 at 1200 GMT, while organisers said 100,000 people had arrived for the rally, with hundreds of buses bringing demonstrators, especially from the region of northern Greece that also claims the Macedonia name. Ten police were hurt in the protests, according to the Greek citizens' protection ministry, while a first aid station said two protesters were hospitalised with breathing difficulties. Scuffles broke out after about 30 masked youths tried to force the closure of the parliament building, throwing stones and other projectiles. Riot police responded with volleys of tear gas, dispersing the crowd outside the legislature. The masked youths then set upon journalists at the scene, smashing the equipment of photographers and cameramen, according to an AFP reporter. According to the government "the incidents were provoked by extremists, members of the Golden Dawn, who attempted to enter parliament". "They attacked police with bits of wood and clubs, sending dozens of wounded to the hospital," said a statement from Tsipras. A wide range of Greek political parties, from the far-right Golden Dawn to the Socialists, oppose the accord to rename Macedonia the Republic of North Macedonia. But it could nonetheless be approved by the required 151 deputies in the 300-seat parliament in the coming days. 'Government of traitors' Flag-waving demonstrators had created a sea of blue and white on Syntagma square near the parliament, while much of the city centre was closed to traffic and some metro stations shut as a precaution. "There is only one Macedonia, the Greek Macedonia," read a sign in Greek and English held by Christina Gerodimoun, in her 30s, at the protests. "This government is a government of traitors," she said in reference to a coalition led by Tsipras, who brokered the deal with Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev in June. The crowd was monitored by nearly 2,000 police, equipped with drones and helicopters, a police source said. Macedonia's parliament approved a constitutional revision to change the country's name 10 days ago. But for the deal between the two leaders to go through, the change must also be approved by Greek lawmakers. Macedonia is a former Yugoslav republic, but for most Greeks, Macedonia is the name of their history-rich northern province made famous by Alexander the Great's conquests. 'Historic step' Tsipras termed the agreement a "historic step" towards normalising relations between the two countries. He urged "progressive forces" to support the name change, in an interview with Afghi, a daily published by his Syriza party. Tsipras' ruling coalition fell apart over the deal a week ago, but he then narrowly won a vote of confidence, setting the stage for parliament to vote on its ratification. Although political parties did not officially join the demonstration, some deputies turned up to express their individual positions, and Golden Dawn's website urged members to attend. "I came out of patriotic duty," conservative representative Fotini Arabatzi from the northern district of Serres told Skai radio. Former Greek premier Antonis Samaras said the protest was "a demonstration for democracy, for Greece and for our rights".

Clashes in Athens as tens of thousands protest Macedonian name deal

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras headed into a confidence vote Wednesday with his political future on the line after a row over a landmark name deal with Macedonia sunk his four-year coalition.

Tsipras is expected to win the vote in parliament, which will be held after midnight, but the subsequent fate of his government is less clear.

His Syriza party has 145 lawmakers in the 300-seat chamber, and he can survive even with 120 votes if enough MPs abstain.

Tsipras is expected to secure at least 151 votes thanks to the backing of a number of independent MPs.

But it's unclear whether he will be able to complete his four-year term, which ends in September.

The 44-year-old leftist leader on Tuesday insisted his government "has another nine months and very important tasks to carry out," pointing to elections in October.

Among his goals are a revision of the constitution, a minimum wage increase and the completion of a property deal with the church that was recently blocked by senior bishops.

"We do not seek (the support of) 151 lawmakers just to complete our term, but in order to carry out specific political initiatives," government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos told Open TV on Wednesday.

Many Greeks expect the elections could take place earlier than October and may even be called to coincide with European and local elections in May, if not sooner.

Coalition in crisis&nbsp;

Even if he survives Wednesday's vote, Tsipras faces an immediate challenge to also secure the approval of a controversial name deal with neighbouring Macedonia.

Last year's agreement with Skopje to rename the country the Republic of North Macedonia, ending a 27-year diplomatic dispute, broke up Tsipras' coalition with the nationalist ANEL party at the weekend, ending a four-year partnership.

Macedonian lawmakers last week approved a constitutional revision to rename their country, but the agreement will only come into effect if backed by the Greek parliament.

Athens has not given a date for the vote on the Macedonia deal, but Tsipras recently said it would be before the end of January.

The European Union and NATO have hailed the deal, which would lift Greek objections to Macedonia joining both organisations.

The proposal faces resistance in Greece because of what critics see as the implied claims to Greek land and cultural heritage.&nbsp;

For most Greeks, Macedonia is the name of their history-rich northern province made famous by Alexander the Great's conquests.

In many cities in northern Greece, posters were put up overnight to urge local lawmakers to vote against the deal.

"Will you betray our Macedonia?" the posters read, each bearing the name and picture of local MPs from the Syriza and ANEL parties.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras headed into a confidence vote Wednesday with his political future on the line after a row over a landmark name deal with Macedonia sunk his four-year coalition.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras headed into a confidence vote Wednesday with his political future on the line after a row over a landmark name deal with Macedonia sunk his four-year coalition. Tsipras is expected to win the vote in parliament, which will be held after midnight, but the subsequent fate of his government is less clear. His Syriza party has 145 lawmakers in the 300-seat chamber, and he can survive even with 120 votes if enough MPs abstain. Tsipras is expected to secure at least 151 votes thanks to the backing of a number of independent MPs. But it's unclear whether he will be able to complete his four-year term, which ends in September. The 44-year-old leftist leader on Tuesday insisted his government "has another nine months and very important tasks to carry out," pointing to elections in October. Among his goals are a revision of the constitution, a minimum wage increase and the completion of a property deal with the church that was recently blocked by senior bishops. "We do not seek (the support of) 151 lawmakers just to complete our term, but in order to carry out specific political initiatives," government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos told Open TV on Wednesday. Many Greeks expect the elections could take place earlier than October and may even be called to coincide with European and local elections in May, if not sooner. Coalition in crisis Even if he survives Wednesday's vote, Tsipras faces an immediate challenge to also secure the approval of a controversial name deal with neighbouring Macedonia. Last year's agreement with Skopje to rename the country the Republic of North Macedonia, ending a 27-year diplomatic dispute, broke up Tsipras' coalition with the nationalist ANEL party at the weekend, ending a four-year partnership. Macedonian lawmakers last week approved a constitutional revision to rename their country, but the agreement will only come into effect if backed by the Greek parliament. Athens has not given a date for the vote on the Macedonia deal, but Tsipras recently said it would be before the end of January. The European Union and NATO have hailed the deal, which would lift Greek objections to Macedonia joining both organisations. The proposal faces resistance in Greece because of what critics see as the implied claims to Greek land and cultural heritage. For most Greeks, Macedonia is the name of their history-rich northern province made famous by Alexander the Great's conquests. In many cities in northern Greece, posters were put up overnight to urge local lawmakers to vote against the deal. "Will you betray our Macedonia?" the posters read, each bearing the name and picture of local MPs from the Syriza and ANEL parties.

Greek PM Tsipras to face confidence vote after Macedonia row

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/merkel-says-germany-takes-responsibilty-for-nazi-crimes-in-greece-189590">Greece</a>'s defence minister, who is head of the main coalition partner of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, announced his resignation on Sunday ahead of an upcoming parliamentary vote to end a 27-year name dispute with Macedonia.

"The Macedonia issue does not allow me not to sacrifice my post," Panos Kammenos said after a meeting with Tsipras.

"I thanked the prime minister for the cooperation and I explained to him that for this national issue we cannot continue," he said, adding that his Independent Greeks party (ANEL) "is pulling out of the government".

The nationalist ANEL supports the Tsipras administration with its seven lawmakers and has six ministers and junior ministers in the government.

Kammenos had threatened to pull out of the government when the name deal comes to a vote in Athens from the moment Tsipras signed the agreement with Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in June. However, some of his ANEL party's MPs remain ambivalent.

Macedonian lawmakers voted late on Friday to rename their country the Republic of North Macedonia but the agreement now needs backing from the Greek parliament to come into effect.

For the Greeks, Macedonia is the name of a history-rich northern province that was the cradle of Alexander the Great's ancient empire.

"Within ten days, in any case as soon as the (Macedonia parliamentary vote) result is notified to us and if we see that everything is in order, we will vote (to approve) the Prespes Agreement," Tsipras told Open TV earlier this week.&nbsp;

The Greek prime minister believes the agreement can be ratified with the 145 lawmakers of his leftist Syriza party but also the votes of the small pro-EU To Potami party as well as some ANEL lawmakers that disagree agree with the position of Kammenos.

The main opposition party of New Democracy is vehemently against the agreement.&nbsp;

Revising the constitution to The deal was signed in the border Prespes region, after months of talks with Skopje.

Tsipras added that a separate vote on a protocol to enable Macedonia to join NATO would be held "not long afterwards".

Greece has previously blocked its neighbour's accession to NATO and the European Union ever since Macedonia broke away from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.

'The Macedonia issue does not allow me not to sacrifice my post,' Panos Kammenos said after a meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Greece's defence minister, who is head of the main coalition partner of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, announced his resignation on Sunday ahead of an upcoming parliamentary vote to end a 27-year name dispute with Macedonia. "The Macedonia issue does not allow me not to sacrifice my post," Panos Kammenos said after a meeting with Tsipras. "I thanked the prime minister for the cooperation and I explained to him that for this national issue we cannot continue," he said, adding that his Independent Greeks party (ANEL) "is pulling out of the government". The nationalist ANEL supports the Tsipras administration with its seven lawmakers and has six ministers and junior ministers in the government. Kammenos had threatened to pull out of the government when the name deal comes to a vote in Athens from the moment Tsipras signed the agreement with Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in June. However, some of his ANEL party's MPs remain ambivalent. Macedonian lawmakers voted late on Friday to rename their country the Republic of North Macedonia but the agreement now needs backing from the Greek parliament to come into effect. For the Greeks, Macedonia is the name of a history-rich northern province that was the cradle of Alexander the Great's ancient empire. "Within ten days, in any case as soon as the (Macedonia parliamentary vote) result is notified to us and if we see that everything is in order, we will vote (to approve) the Prespes Agreement," Tsipras told Open TV earlier this week. The Greek prime minister believes the agreement can be ratified with the 145 lawmakers of his leftist Syriza party but also the votes of the small pro-EU To Potami party as well as some ANEL lawmakers that disagree agree with the position of Kammenos. The main opposition party of New Democracy is vehemently against the agreement. Revising the constitution to The deal was signed in the border Prespes region, after months of talks with Skopje. Tsipras added that a separate vote on a protocol to enable Macedonia to join NATO would be held "not long afterwards". Greece has previously blocked its neighbour's accession to NATO and the European Union ever since Macedonia broke away from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.

Greek defence minister Panos Kammenos announces resignation ahead of Macedonia vote

A United Nations conference adopted a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/global-compact-for-migration-why-are-countries-opposing-it-182795">migration pact </a>in front of leaders and representatives from over 160 countries in Morocco on Monday, despite a string of withdrawals driven by anti-immigrant populism.

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration -- finalised at the UN in July after 18 months of talks -- was formally approved with the bang of a gavel in Marrakesh at the start of a two-day conference.

But the United States and at least <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-150-governments-to-adopt-un-migration-pact-in-morocco-182775">16 other countries</a> either opted out or expressed concerns, with some claiming the pact infringes national sovereignty.

Billed as the first international document on managing migration, it lays out 23 objectives to open up legal migration and discourage illegal border crossings, as the number of people on the move globally has surged to more than 250 million.

Describing it as a "roadmap to prevent suffering and chaos", UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sought to dispel what he called a number of myths around the pact, including claims it will allow the United Nations to impose migration policies on member states.

The pact "is not legally binding", he said. "It is a framework for international cooperation."

"We must not succumb to fear and false narratives", he told an audience that included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Panama's President Juan Carlos Varela, Greek premier Alexis Tsipras, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Spain's premier Pedro Sanchez.

Merkel launched an impassioned defence of the pact and multilateralism, saying her country "through Nazism brought incredible pain to humanity".

"The answer to pure nationalism was the foundation of the United Nations and the commitment to jointly searching for answers to our common problems," she said.

She insisted the pact seeks to prevent, rather than encourage, illegal migration. "This is about safe, orderly and regular migration -- it says (this) clearly in the title."

Draconian measures&nbsp;

On Friday, the US hit out at the pact, labelling it "an effort by the United Nations to advance global governance at the expense of the sovereign right of states".

It was the first country to disavow the negotiations late last year, while Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia have all pulled out of the process in recent months and weeks before Chile withdrew overnight.

Brazil also announced Monday it would withdraw from the pact from January when far-right president-elect Jair Bolsonaro takes office.

"Immigration is welcome, but it should not be indiscriminate," future foreign minister Ernesto Araujo tweeted, adding: "It must serve the national interests and cohesion of each society."&nbsp;

Rows over the accord have erupted in several European Union nations, hobbling <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/belgium-lapses-into-minority-government-over-un-migration-pact-row-182717">Belgium's coalition government </a>and pushing Slovakia's foreign minister to tender his resignation.

From the United States to Europe and beyond, right-wing and populist leaders have taken increasingly draconian measures to shut out migrants in recent years.

US President Donald Trump has pledged to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and has focused his recent ire on a migrant caravan from Central America, while a populist coalition government in Italy has clamped down on boats rescuing migrants at sea.

Belgium's liberal premier Charles Michel attended the conference after winning the support of parliament to back the accord but was left leading a minority government after a Flemish nationalist party said it will quit his coalition over the pact.

"This model of cooperation is complex, sometimes including steps forwards and sometimes banana skins," Michel told delegates.

The pact has been welcomed by the Catholic Church as an important step towards addressing migrants' needs and reducing their vulnerability.

"The Holy See is convinced that the enormous challenges that migration poses are best faced through multilateral processes rather than isolationist policies," said papal envoy Cardinal Piero Parolin.

Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras also welcomed the accord. These countries have worked on their own regional plan to manage migration, which El Salvador's foreign minister Carlos Castaneda told reporters represents the first effort to work within the framework of the global compact.

'Should be ethically binding'

The UN's children's agency said the pact could help provide better access to education and health for migrant children and offer "them stronger protection from exploitation and violence".

Other organisations, including Amnesty International and the International Federation of the Red Cross, see the accord as just a first step towards protecting migrants.

"We have heard repeatedly that this compact is not legally binding and does not impact on state sovereignty," said IFRC president Francesco Rocca at a press conference on the sidelines of the main dialogue.

"But if we are serious about fixing this problem, it should at the very least be ethically binding."

In comments by a representative, Morocco's King Mohammed VI -- absent from proceedings -- said the pact offers a way forwards that navigates between the two extremes of closing borders and allowing uncontrolled migration.

After the Marrakesh conference, the UN General Assembly is set to adopt a resolution formally endorsing the deal on December 19.

A United Nations conference adopted a migration pact in front of leaders and representatives from over 160 countries in Morocco on Monday, despite a string of withdrawals driven by anti-immigrant populism.

A United Nations conference adopted a migration pact in front of leaders and representatives from over 160 countries in Morocco on Monday, despite a string of withdrawals driven by anti-immigrant populism. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration -- finalised at the UN in July after 18 months of talks -- was formally approved with the bang of a gavel in Marrakesh at the start of a two-day conference. But the United States and at least 16 other countries either opted out or expressed concerns, with some claiming the pact infringes national sovereignty. Billed as the first international document on managing migration, it lays out 23 objectives to open up legal migration and discourage illegal border crossings, as the number of people on the move globally has surged to more than 250 million. Describing it as a "roadmap to prevent suffering and chaos", UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sought to dispel what he called a number of myths around the pact, including claims it will allow the United Nations to impose migration policies on member states. The pact "is not legally binding", he said. "It is a framework for international cooperation." "We must not succumb to fear and false narratives", he told an audience that included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Panama's President Juan Carlos Varela, Greek premier Alexis Tsipras, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Spain's premier Pedro Sanchez. Merkel launched an impassioned defence of the pact and multilateralism, saying her country "through Nazism brought incredible pain to humanity". "The answer to pure nationalism was the foundation of the United Nations and the commitment to jointly searching for answers to our common problems," she said. She insisted the pact seeks to prevent, rather than encourage, illegal migration. "This is about safe, orderly and regular migration -- it says (this) clearly in the title." Draconian measures On Friday, the US hit out at the pact, labelling it "an effort by the United Nations to advance global governance at the expense of the sovereign right of states". It was the first country to disavow the negotiations late last year, while Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia have all pulled out of the process in recent months and weeks before Chile withdrew overnight. Brazil also announced Monday it would withdraw from the pact from January when far-right president-elect Jair Bolsonaro takes office. "Immigration is welcome, but it should not be indiscriminate," future foreign minister Ernesto Araujo tweeted, adding: "It must serve the national interests and cohesion of each society." Rows over the accord have erupted in several European Union nations, hobbling Belgium's coalition government and pushing Slovakia's foreign minister to tender his resignation. From the United States to Europe and beyond, right-wing and populist leaders have taken increasingly draconian measures to shut out migrants in recent years. US President Donald Trump has pledged to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and has focused his recent ire on a migrant caravan from Central America, while a populist coalition government in Italy has clamped down on boats rescuing migrants at sea. Belgium's liberal premier Charles Michel attended the conference after winning the support of parliament to back the accord but was left leading a minority government after a Flemish nationalist party said it will quit his coalition over the pact. "This model of cooperation is complex, sometimes including steps forwards and sometimes banana skins," Michel told delegates. The pact has been welcomed by the Catholic Church as an important step towards addressing migrants' needs and reducing their vulnerability. "The Holy See is convinced that the enormous challenges that migration poses are best faced through multilateral processes rather than isolationist policies," said papal envoy Cardinal Piero Parolin. Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras also welcomed the accord. These countries have worked on their own regional plan to manage migration, which El Salvador's foreign minister Carlos Castaneda told reporters represents the first effort to work within the framework of the global compact. 'Should be ethically binding' The UN's children's agency said the pact could help provide better access to education and health for migrant children and offer "them stronger protection from exploitation and violence". Other organisations, including Amnesty International and the International Federation of the Red Cross, see the accord as just a first step towards protecting migrants. "We have heard repeatedly that this compact is not legally binding and does not impact on state sovereignty," said IFRC president Francesco Rocca at a press conference on the sidelines of the main dialogue. "But if we are serious about fixing this problem, it should at the very least be ethically binding." In comments by a representative, Morocco's King Mohammed VI -- absent from proceedings -- said the pact offers a way forwards that navigates between the two extremes of closing borders and allowing uncontrolled migration. After the Marrakesh conference, the UN General Assembly is set to adopt a resolution formally endorsing the deal on December 19.

UN conference adopts migration pact despite withdrawals

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was accused&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;of surrendering part of his nation's identity, as a deal he struck to settle a name dispute with Macedonia prompted a barrage of criticism from opposition politicians and media.

Under the agreement announced by Athens and Skopje&nbsp;on Tuesday, the Balkan state known as Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" would henceforth be called the "Republic of Northern Macedonia".

The accord would open the way for the small nation's eventual membership of the European Union and NATO, currently blocked by Greece's objections to its current name.

But conservative opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis called it "deeply problematic", because the majority of Greeks were against it and Tsipras lacked the political legitimacy to sign it.

"We are in a situation that is unprecedented in Greece's constitutional history. A prime minister without a clear parliamentary mandate willing to commit the country to a reality which will not be possible to change," Mitsotakis said.

The accord requires ratification by both countries' parliaments, and the junior partner in Greece's coalition, the right wing Independent Greeks party, has said it does not back any deal that gives away the name Macedonia.

That chimes in with the view of many ordinary Greeks, who feel the name implies territorial claims on a northern Greek province of the same name, the birthplace of national hero Alexander the Great.

The name dispute has soured bilateral relations since 1991, when Greece's northern neighbour declared its independence from former Yugoslavia under the name Republic of Macedonia.

In a front-page editorial conservative daily Eleftheros Typos called the agreement "the surrender of the Macedonian identity and language," while centre-right Kathimerini referred to "a deal with gaps and question marks".

Responding to the conservatives, Deputy Foreign Minister George Katrougkalos said the deal would put an end to the perpetuation of the name Macedonia as an identifier for the Balkan state.

"If they believe this (that the government does not have the legitimacy), they have the means ... to question it with a no-confidence motion. Why aren't they doing it?" Katrougkalos told Greek Skai TV.

Centre-left daily Ta Nea newspaper said that, while the historian of the future would have the luxury of time to assess the deal, "until then one must keep in mind that there are no compromises without concessions."

Activist group The Committee for The Hellenic Identity of Macedonia said it would organise protests in Athens and northern Greece if the deal went ahead and urged lawmakers not to ratify it.

"We peacefully assert that they have no right to sign (a deal) against Greek people's will," they wrote on Facebook.

Mikis Theodorakis, who composed the music to the film 'Zorba the Greek', said the agreement would "stigmatise us forever" if it went ahead.

'We peacefully assert that they have no right to sign (a deal) against Greek people's will,' they wrote on Facebook

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was accused on Wednesday of surrendering part of his nation's identity, as a deal he struck to settle a name dispute with Macedonia prompted a barrage of criticism from opposition politicians and media. Under the agreement announced by Athens and Skopje on Tuesday, the Balkan state known as Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" would henceforth be called the "Republic of Northern Macedonia". The accord would open the way for the small nation's eventual membership of the European Union and NATO, currently blocked by Greece's objections to its current name. But conservative opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis called it "deeply problematic", because the majority of Greeks were against it and Tsipras lacked the political legitimacy to sign it. "We are in a situation that is unprecedented in Greece's constitutional history. A prime minister without a clear parliamentary mandate willing to commit the country to a reality which will not be possible to change," Mitsotakis said. The accord requires ratification by both countries' parliaments, and the junior partner in Greece's coalition, the right wing Independent Greeks party, has said it does not back any deal that gives away the name Macedonia. That chimes in with the view of many ordinary Greeks, who feel the name implies territorial claims on a northern Greek province of the same name, the birthplace of national hero Alexander the Great. The name dispute has soured bilateral relations since 1991, when Greece's northern neighbour declared its independence from former Yugoslavia under the name Republic of Macedonia. In a front-page editorial conservative daily Eleftheros Typos called the agreement "the surrender of the Macedonian identity and language," while centre-right Kathimerini referred to "a deal with gaps and question marks". Responding to the conservatives, Deputy Foreign Minister George Katrougkalos said the deal would put an end to the perpetuation of the name Macedonia as an identifier for the Balkan state. "If they believe this (that the government does not have the legitimacy), they have the means ... to question it with a no-confidence motion. Why aren't they doing it?" Katrougkalos told Greek Skai TV. Centre-left daily Ta Nea newspaper said that, while the historian of the future would have the luxury of time to assess the deal, "until then one must keep in mind that there are no compromises without concessions." Activist group The Committee for The Hellenic Identity of Macedonia said it would organise protests in Athens and northern Greece if the deal went ahead and urged lawmakers not to ratify it. "We peacefully assert that they have no right to sign (a deal) against Greek people's will," they wrote on Facebook. Mikis Theodorakis, who composed the music to the film 'Zorba the Greek', said the agreement would "stigmatise us forever" if it went ahead.

Greek PM faces domestic backlash over Macedonia name deal

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras yesterday said the constitution should be revised to give Greeks &quot;direct democracy&quot;, a say in electing the president and the right to hold referendums on laws. 
 
&quot;It is time to set aside fear of the people&#39;s judgment even if the people are not infallible,&quot; Tsipras said in a televised speech. 
 
He said people should be allowed to elect the nation&#39;s president - who is currently chosen by parliament - if efforts by lawmakers fail, as they did last year. 
 
The people should also be able to reject laws by referendum - except those on fiscal matters - and propose their own legal initiatives, Tsipras said. 
 
Lawmakers should only be allowed to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms in parliament. 
 
The Greek state should also be &quot;religion-neutral&quot; and officials should take civil oaths, even if Greece&#39;s main religion remains orthodox Christianity, the leftist PM said. 
 
This last proposal is likely to raise eyebrows in Greece, where Tsipras - a self-admitted atheist - became the country&#39;s first-ever prime minister to take a civil oath on his election last year. 
 
And the PM must also sway his own Syriza party, where a sizeable faction sees no need for constitutional revision.&nbsp;He said discussion groups would be formed nationwide and deliver a report by April on public proposals for the constitution. 
 
Most opposition leaders boycotted the ceremony, held mainly before Tsipras allies in front of parliament. 
 
Even if approved, the constitutional changes cannot be set in motion by the present parliament.&nbsp;They can only be enacted by the legislative body that will emerge after the next elections, which are normally due in 2019. 
 
However, Tsipras&#39; coalition government rests on a fragile three-seat majority and it is widely assumed that he will be unable to complete his four-year term. 
 
Tsipras said decisions would be taken in a year&#39;s time and could be supported with a referendum on the issue. 
 
The Greek constitution has been revised three times in the last four decades, with the last changes coming in 2008.&nbsp;Successive parliamentary votes are required to change a constitutional article - one to nominate a specific article to be amended, and another to actually rewrite it. 
 
From the two votes to be held on each article selected for amendment, at least one must be carried by a majority of 180 out of Greece&#39;s 300 lawmakers. 
 
Tsipras can currently rely on at least 153 deputies to approve his proposals, but finding another 180 to confirm the changes, up to three years from now, will not be easy.&nbsp;Tsipras&#39; popularity has waned after he was forced last year to accept an unpopular EU bailout to keep Greece in the eurozone. 
 
Polls show he could actually lose the next election to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of the conservative New Democracy party. 
 
(AFP)

People should be allowed to elect the nations's president and also be able to reject laws by referendum, Alexis Tsipras said

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras yesterday said the constitution should be revised to give Greeks "direct democracy", a say in electing the president and the right to hold referendums on laws. "It is time to set aside fear of the people's judgment even if the people are not infallible," Tsipras said in a televised speech. He said people should be allowed to elect the nation's president - who is currently chosen by parliament - if efforts by lawmakers fail, as they did last year. The people should also be able to reject laws by referendum - except those on fiscal matters - and propose their own legal initiatives, Tsipras said. Lawmakers should only be allowed to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms in parliament. The Greek state should also be "religion-neutral" and officials should take civil oaths, even if Greece's main religion remains orthodox Christianity, the leftist PM said. This last proposal is likely to raise eyebrows in Greece, where Tsipras - a self-admitted atheist - became the country's first-ever prime minister to take a civil oath on his election last year. And the PM must also sway his own Syriza party, where a sizeable faction sees no need for constitutional revision. He said discussion groups would be formed nationwide and deliver a report by April on public proposals for the constitution. Most opposition leaders boycotted the ceremony, held mainly before Tsipras allies in front of parliament. Even if approved, the constitutional changes cannot be set in motion by the present parliament. They can only be enacted by the legislative body that will emerge after the next elections, which are normally due in 2019. However, Tsipras' coalition government rests on a fragile three-seat majority and it is widely assumed that he will be unable to complete his four-year term. Tsipras said decisions would be taken in a year's time and could be supported with a referendum on the issue. The Greek constitution has been revised three times in the last four decades, with the last changes coming in 2008. Successive parliamentary votes are required to change a constitutional article - one to nominate a specific article to be amended, and another to actually rewrite it. From the two votes to be held on each article selected for amendment, at least one must be carried by a majority of 180 out of Greece's 300 lawmakers. Tsipras can currently rely on at least 153 deputies to approve his proposals, but finding another 180 to confirm the changes, up to three years from now, will not be easy. Tsipras' popularity has waned after he was forced last year to accept an unpopular EU bailout to keep Greece in the eurozone. Polls show he could actually lose the next election to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of the conservative New Democracy party. (AFP)

Greek PM proposes constitutional change for 'direct democracy'

Greek lawmakers voted yesterday to amend electoral law to lower the voting age by a year to 17 and eventually eliminate a 50-seat bonus for the winning party. 
 
While the drop in voting age will take effect in the next election, the seat bonus will only be scrapped in two elections from now. 
 
This was because the leftist government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was unable to muster yesterday the required support of two-thirds of parliament, or 200 lawmakers, for scrapping the generous 50-seat bonus. 
 
The lower voting age, however, did not require an enhanced majority to be passed. A total of 179 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill, with 86 against and 16 abstentions. 
 
Critics say eliminating the bonus will make it more difficult for a single party to have an overarching majority and could cause political instability. 
 
Even with the bonus in place, back-to-back elections were required in 2012 to form a government, plunging the debt-laden country into political uncertainty for months.&nbsp; 
 
Tsipras won the last election in September, and the next polls are due in 2019. 
 
Introducing proportional representation had been a long-standing pledge of his Syriza party. 
 
However, Tsipras coalition government rests on a fragile three-seat majority and it is widely assumed that he will be unable to complete his four-year term. Tsipras popularity has waned after he was forced last year to accept an unpopular EU bailout to keep Greece in the eurozone. 
 
He now lags behind in the polls to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of the conservative New Democracy party. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

While the drop in voting age will take effect in the next election, the seat bonus will only be scrapped in two elections from now

Greek lawmakers voted yesterday to amend electoral law to lower the voting age by a year to 17 and eventually eliminate a 50-seat bonus for the winning party. While the drop in voting age will take effect in the next election, the seat bonus will only be scrapped in two elections from now. This was because the leftist government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was unable to muster yesterday the required support of two-thirds of parliament, or 200 lawmakers, for scrapping the generous 50-seat bonus. The lower voting age, however, did not require an enhanced majority to be passed. A total of 179 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill, with 86 against and 16 abstentions. Critics say eliminating the bonus will make it more difficult for a single party to have an overarching majority and could cause political instability. Even with the bonus in place, back-to-back elections were required in 2012 to form a government, plunging the debt-laden country into political uncertainty for months. Tsipras won the last election in September, and the next polls are due in 2019. Introducing proportional representation had been a long-standing pledge of his Syriza party. However, Tsipras coalition government rests on a fragile three-seat majority and it is widely assumed that he will be unable to complete his four-year term. Tsipras popularity has waned after he was forced last year to accept an unpopular EU bailout to keep Greece in the eurozone. He now lags behind in the polls to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of the conservative New Democracy party. (Reuters)

Greece lowers voting age to 17, eliminates 50-seat bonus for winning party

alexis-tsipras

Alexis Tsipras, News on Alexis Tsipras, stories on Alexis Tsipras, articles on Alexis Tsipras, Alexis Tsipras stories at Wion, Alexis Tsipras news, Alexis Tsipras latest news

alexis tsipras