Photo: Reuters
The leftist Syriza Party of Greece is all set to historically win the elections that took place on Sunday. Though complete results are yet to emerge, leftist leaders Alexis Tsipras’s Syriza party bagged majority votes, leading to their victory, defeating the opponent New Democracy Party.
Tsipras, who is all set to become the next prime minister, promised on Sunday the finishing of austerity, humiliation and suffering imposed by international creditors. Tsipras’s supporters began cheering and celebrating, as exit polls were predicting Syriza’s victory. However, until yesterday, it wasn’t explicit as to whether the leftist leader and his party would secure a majority, and theories of a coalition government were doing rounds.
But as the counting results are emerging, it is becoming evident that Syriza party is to secure a majority in the country. With about 60 percent of votes counted, Syriza was set to win 149 seats in the 300 seat parliament, with 36.1 percent of the vote, around eight points ahead of the conservative New Democracy party of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, reported Reuters.
Photograph: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images
“We are regaining our lost dignity … Now that we are heard by all of Europe, we will fight with the same passion, the same confidence,” Tsipras told cheering supporters. “So let’s go and let’s all continue this beautiful and tough fight,” reported CNN.
Alexis Tsipras told the cheering crowd in Athens, “Greece leaves behinds catastrophic austerity, it leaves behind fear and authoritarianism, it leaves behind five years of humiliation and anguish.”
The snap elections were conducted as the Hellenic Parliament failed to elect a new President of State by December 29, last year, leading to the parliament getting dissolved.
Challenges:
Greece’s economy has disintegrated and the country has been suffering through a lot of problems, to which a solution had not been found. Solving these problems, renegotiating the bailouts being the top most, are lying as tough challenges in front of Tsipras.
The austerity program imposed by Brussels and Berlin in return for loans to fund Greece’s massive debt, have been disliked in the country, and Syriza party has stood victorious because it promised of better terms for the country. The better terms, for sure, will top the list of Tsipras.
Greece’s economy too, is facing significant problems such as rapidly rising unemployment, insufficient public sector bureaucracy, tax evasion, corruption and low global competitiveness.
According to Reuters, European leaders have said Greece must respect the terms of its 240 billion euro bailout deal, but Tsipras campaigned on a promise to renegotiate the country’s huge debt, raising the possibility of a major conflict with euro zone partners. Tsipras, Reuters reported, said on Sunday he would cooperate with fellow euro zone leaders for “a fair and mutually beneficial solution” but said the Greek people came first. “Our priority from the very first day will be to deal with the big wounds left by the crisis,” he said. “Our foremost priority is that our country and our people regain their
A CNN story, highlighting the security problems of Greece, reported: Greece has become an unwitting crossroads — both for jihadists trying to reach Iraq and Syria from Europe, and for fighters returning home from the Middle East. Greece’s long land and maritime boundaries, its proximity to Turkey, the explosion of illegal migration from Syria and the country’s dire financial situation make it an inviting hub for jihadist groups, according to multiple counterterrorism sources.
Syriza Party:
Syriza, an acronym for Coalition of the Radical Left, is Greece’s left-wing party led by Alexis Tsipras, formally launched before 2004 legislative elections. This election was contested on the slogan ‘Hope Is Coming’.
Tags: Alexis Tsipras Greece Greek elections Syriza party
