Electoral excitement in Greece… The new system will be implemented for the first time
The system, which will be used for the first time in Greece this year in the general elections on May 21, eliminates the application of the “bonus” of 50 deputies to the first party, and plans to go to the polls again if a government cannot be formed. .
There are 300 seats in the Greek parliament. Political parties, alliances and independent candidates may participate in general elections.
Voters will be able to choose not only among the parties on the ballot, but also among the parliamentary candidates on their preferred party list. Therefore, first of all, the number of deputies that a party will get from a given region will depend on the total number of votes it receives from the region. The party’s parliamentary candidates in that region will then be ranked according to the number of votes they received. The priority to be deputy will be determined by the number of votes received.
In the electoral system implemented in previous years, 50 “bonus” deputies were given to the first party in general elections under the pretext of avoiding coalition governments and strong power, but in the new system this practice was abolished at first. to the polls
While the party that wins 151 seats in parliament will govern alone, if neither party can reach this number, the president will appoint the leader of the party that receives the most votes to form a government. If a government cannot be formed, the President will give the task to the leaders of the second and third party with the most votes, respectively. Each of the leaders will have three days to form a government.
If a government cannot be formed at this stage, the president will bring together all the leaders of the political parties. If this process is also unsuccessful, voters will go to the polls again with a temporary government that will be established with the participation of all parties.
OPTIONS ARE REPEATABLE
In this election, which is called a “rerun” instead of a runoff, all independent and party candidates will retake their places on the ballot paper, regardless of the percentage of votes received in the first election.
If the elections are “repeated”, the “bonus” parliamentary seat will be applied. Consequently, a bonus of 20 deputies will be granted to the first party, provided that the voting rate is equal to or greater than 25 percent.
For every 0.5 percent increase over 25 percent, one more parliamentary seat is expected. The former may receive a maximum of 50 bonus MP within this framework.
CHOICE DAM 3 PERCENT
Independent parties and candidates contesting general elections must pass the 3 percent threshold applied nationwide to enter parliament. The fact that this electoral threshold is valid not only for parties and alliances, but also for all independent candidates practically prevents independent candidates from entering parliament.
Those who will participate in the general elections on May 21 in Greece were determined by the decision of the Greek Supreme Court (Arios Pagos) on May 2. With the acceptance by the Supreme Court of 36 of 50 applications to participate in the general elections on May 21, 27 political parties, 8 alliances and 1 independent candidate were able to participate in the elections.
The ruling New Democracy appears first in polls conducted by research firms, followed by the main opposition Radical Left Alliance (SYRIZA). The third party most supported by voters seems to be PASOK. (AA)