ATHENS—According to statistics for Greek Euroelection results, abstention from Greek citizens this year was at an all-time high. Some Greek politicians speculated that voters are losing faith in the system.
The European elections are held every five years, with candidates usually representing both a national party and a pan-European party.
Abstention in Greece was 47 percent, without counting invalid and white votes—where votes only count toward the party, and not individual candidates within it. The fact that almost half of the population did not vote has caused widespread speculation and discussion among Greek politicians and citizenry.
Some political parties expressed the view that Greek citizens have turned their backs on the political system in disappointment, and that they no longer care about the elections.
This would not be an isolated phenomenon, either. The BBC notes that of the 375 million people in 27 countries eligible to vote, less than half did so.
Nearly all parties received less votes than previous years in Greece, except the Ecologist Greens and the far right Popular Orthodox Rally. The BBC sees a similar trend across the continent, “A strong result for the center-right, collapsing support for the center-left, and a boost for the far-right and other fringe groups.”
Kostas Karamanlis, the current Greek Prime Minister, gave a speech calling for a choice between “responsibility or populism.” He emphasised that voters should choose “responsibility,” at the same time touching on the economic crisis.
The European elections are held every five years, with candidates usually representing both a national party and a pan-European party.
Abstention in Greece was 47 percent, without counting invalid and white votes—where votes only count toward the party, and not individual candidates within it. The fact that almost half of the population did not vote has caused widespread speculation and discussion among Greek politicians and citizenry.
Some political parties expressed the view that Greek citizens have turned their backs on the political system in disappointment, and that they no longer care about the elections.
This would not be an isolated phenomenon, either. The BBC notes that of the 375 million people in 27 countries eligible to vote, less than half did so.
Nearly all parties received less votes than previous years in Greece, except the Ecologist Greens and the far right Popular Orthodox Rally. The BBC sees a similar trend across the continent, “A strong result for the center-right, collapsing support for the center-left, and a boost for the far-right and other fringe groups.”
Kostas Karamanlis, the current Greek Prime Minister, gave a speech calling for a choice between “responsibility or populism.” He emphasised that voters should choose “responsibility,” at the same time touching on the economic crisis.
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