According to a story published in this Sunday’s TO VIMA (gr: TO BHMA), a leading Greek newspaper, if early Greek national elections are called, and it goes to repeat-election (not an unlikely possibility), the two events could fall on the same day, June 7.
The PM, Costas Karamanlis, has denied claims that the country is heading for an early election and in a recent statement, quoted in the newspaper Kathimerini, (link to article here ), he ruled out the possibility, saying his intention is to concentrate on managing the economic crisis in Greece, not on staving off talk of early elections. Leading opposition party officials and analysts say that the ruling party will be forced to call early elections and are getting out their diaries in anticipation. The PM, leader of the New Democracy party, came to power in 2004, in September 2007 there was a re-election, following a period of popular discontent, Karamanlis was voted back in. His term is due to expire in 2011.
It was stated in VIMA’s lead article (link to Greek version of article here) that if the PM does opt for early elections, he will most likely choose one of the following three dates: 26 April, 3 or 10th May, say government insiders. In the case that there were no decisive parliamentary majority elected, repeat-elections would need to be called within a period designated by Greek constitutional law, which means the two elections could fall on the same date.
Electoral laws in Greece do not prohibit the proclamation of other elections during the same day. Of course, this scenario is only speculative, but if it was to be the case; it would throw up a host of interesting possibilities.
If early elections are called within the same timeframe as European elections, would this be a positive outcome for the country? Debates are likely to be played out on European and national issues simultaneously – ensuring more attentive participation in European elections perhaps? Surely this can only be a good thing, and expound issues in a country with many national and transnational concerns? Or will the significance of the European elections be overshadowed by what are seen as more pressing national concerns?
Although voting is compulsory in Greece, voter turnout for the last European elections was 63, 4 per cent, much higher than the European average which was nearly 20 per cent lower. In the 2007 elections, 74.1 per cent voted. So there was higher turnout for national elections than EP elections -no surprises there, Greece is nevertheless one of the countries which have amongst the highest voter turnout at European elections.
This is a turbulent time for the country which in December was rocked by riots, Greece made the European headlines again this week with the prison break of 41 year old convict Vassilis Paleokostas, who escaped by helicopter, in an Oscar worthy performance, from a maximum security prison in Attica– even more embarrassing for the authorities, is that this is exactly the same way he had escaped from the same prison in 2006.
Sources for graph: European Parliament and IFES reports on Greece’s voter turnout
Photo of Costas Karamanlis courtesy of Flikr user karpidis
(11 votes, average: 3.18 out of 5)
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In Greece voting is compulsory, but for the time being there are no penalties. That means that finally it is not compulsory. The reasons why Greeks do go to vote even if they are not “really” obliged to, is because they are extremely politicised population, which has its pros and cons. Few nationalities talk about the weather when they meet, Greeks can spend the whole day arguing about the political system and its limitations.
I wish Euro elections and national elections won’t coincide! If that happens, poor Euroelections will be simply overshadowed.
Greek Law legislation:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/elections2009/countries/electoral_laws/greece.htm;jsessionid=A19ED31FA43036D8D9C3E7BF5E9E2B87.node1?language=EN&electLang=EN
Great, that the Greek turnout is always so good! Maybe it is because Greece is the true heir of democracy, having invented it with Plato and Socrates? Wouldn’t it be a good idea, if the Greek MEPs played on that issue, Europe also being a Greek name?