This Sunday in Greece, the people will vote. Prime Minister Costas Karamalis, from the conservative center-right party, called a snap election last month so that there can be a fresh mandate on the governing of Greece during economic crisis.
Many people are dissatisfied with the current government that has been in place since 2004. Since then, rising unemployment, immense public debt, a plundering economy, and scandals within the ruling party have put the opposition socialist party, PASOK , in the lead. The Panhellenic Socialist Movement with the acronym “PASOK” is a center-left political party in Greece that has been in power several times in the past. Their platform runs along a social-democratic ideology, which believes in maintaining a capitalist economy, but increasing the size of the welfare state, similar to what Scandinavian countries have right now. Many people in Greece who remember the 1980’s, which for many Greeks is remembered as a good time, may vote with a sense of nostalgia for that time that was governed by the PASOK party. Political analysts caution against assuming that things will be like they were in the 1980’s should PASOK come back into power.
In Greece, there is a law prohibiting polls from being conducted less than two weeks before election day, but the last polls indicate the PASOK party leading the incumbent New Democracy party by 6-8%. George Papandreou is the leader of PASOK and would become the new prime minister if PASOK wins the election. If the results come in very close between the two large parties, there have been talks of parties forming coalition governments in order to have a more agreeing block of members in parliament to pass essential legislation to bring about economic recoveries. One possible coalition that has been mentioned is one between the two large parties, PASOK and ND. This would create a large centrist policy that may help bridge an ideological gap that has stalled alot of the legislation the Greek government has been trying to pass. It is not said how likely this coalition would be though. Another that has been discussed is one between ND and the right-wing LAOS party, however ND claims they do not wish to form a coalition with a party they view as too right wing.
In a proportional representation parliamentary system, there are several interesting scenarios that can play out in a general election.
The most likely
PASOK wins outright majority with George Papandreou as the new prime minister and the PASOK party with a majority in parliament.
Possible
PASOK gets a slight lead over ND with George Papandreou still becoming the new prime minister, but forming a coalition government with the ND party.
Not likely, but still possible
The incumbent ND party wins re-election with prime minister Kostas Karamalis continuing to be the leader of Greece.
