SYRIZA heads for historic victory but without majority

Series Title
Series Details 26.01.15
Publication Date 26/01/2015
Content Type

Reports of the results, and international reaction, to the general election in Greece on the 25 January 2015.

The left-wing Syriza coalition party won the election. The party gathered 149 seats in the 300-seat parliament, two short of an absolute majority.

On the 26 January 2015 the leader of the right-wing Independent Greeks party (ANEL), Panos Kammenos, announced he had reached an agreement with Syriza to support the new government in the parliament, following an hour-long meeting with its leader Alexis Tsipras.

Syriza had strongly campaigned against the consecutive austerity programmes put forward in the country throughout the previous six years, which resulted in big budget cuts and heavy tax rises. The crisis also had sent unemployment rates to over 25% and pushed millions into poverty.

In reactions to the election results, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council said on the 26 January 2015: 'The European Union has stood by Greece from the first day of the crisis and is committed to continue to support the country in its efforts to put its economy on a sustainable path'.

The European Parliament's President Martin Schulz said that Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras had the full right to be respected as the new democratically elected prime minister of an EU country, but also stressed that 'we have to stick to agreements made to stabilise Greece and the European Union'.

Deutsche Welle spoke of the Eurogroup meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Brussels on the 26 January 2015, at which attendees spoke out against the idea of writing off Greek debt. Click here for more information on this meeting.

Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem (and Dutch Finance Minister) told reporters that there was 'little support' for forgiving Greek debt, although it might be possible to ease the terms of repayment.

In a tweet European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker reminded the new Prime Minister of the need to 'ensure fiscal responsibility'.

There was also much focus on the reaction of the government, plus other political and economic interests in Germany.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_26/01/2015_546524
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Greek legislative election, 25 January 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/greek-legislative-election-25-january-2015/
Kathimerini, 26.01.15: Tsipras moves to form anti-austerity government after crushing victory http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_26/01/2015_546528
EurActiv, 26.01.15: EU leaders bewildered as Greeks elect Syriza http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/europe-bewildered-greeks-elect-syriza-311548
EurActiv, 26.01.15: Greek leftist scores victory over austerity http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/greek-leftist-scores-victory-over-austerity-311541
EUObserver, 26.01.15: EU leaders slow to congratulate Syriza https://euobserver.com/news/127364
BBC News, 26.01.15: Greece anti-bailout leader Tsipras made prime minister http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30981950
The New York Times, 26.01.15: After Victory at Greek Polls, Leftist Politician Forms Coalition Government http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/27/world/europe/alexis-tsipiras-greece-coalition.html
Deutsche Welle, 26.01.15: Reactions to Syriza win in Greece elections http://dw.de/p/1EQMk
Kathimerini, 26.01.15: Tsipras forges anti-austerity coalition in challenge to EU http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_26/01/2015_546532
European Parliament: Press Release, 26.01.15: Martin Schulz: We have to stick to agreements made to stabilise Greece and the EU' http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20150123STO13903/
European Parliament: President: Press Release, 26.01.15: Statement by Martin Schulz on the swearing in of Alexis Tsipras as Prime Minister of Greece http://www.europarl.europa.eu/the-president/en/press/press_release_speeches/press_release/press_release-2015/press_release-2015-january/html/statement-by-martin-schulz-on-the-swearing-in-of-alexis-tsipras-as-prime-minister-of-greece
European Council: Statement, No.252, 2015 (26.01.15): President Donald Tusk congratulates Alexis Tsipras on his appointment as Prime Minister of Greece http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/01/president-tusk-congratulates-tsipras-new-greece-prime-minister/
Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 26.01.15: Syriza wins in Greece http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER157249-Syriza-wins-in-Greece
Deutsche Welle, 26.01.15: EU finance ministers: Greece must pay http://dw.de/p/1EQm4
Kathimerini, 26.01.15: Europe warns Greece's SYRIZA to stick to austerity http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_26/01/2015_546543
Kathimerini, 26.01.15: [Comment] SYRIZA's win will test institutions http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite3_1_26/01/2015_546527
Bruegel: Article, 26.01.15: Retaking the Greek Test http://www.bruegel.org/nc/blog/detail/article/1553-retaking-the-greek-test/
The Guardian, 26.01.15: [Comment is free]: Germany will relent on Greek debt – and Europe will suffer http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/26/germany-greek-debt-europe-tsipras-defeat-merkel
Blog: Open Europe, 26.01.15: Landslide SYRIZA victory in Greek elections means tough Eurozone negotiations on the horizon http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/lanslide-syriza-victory-in-greek-elections-means-tough-eurozone-negotiations-on-the-horizon/
The Conversation, 26.01.15: With Greece backing euro but Syriza in government, another election may beckon http://theconversation.com/with-greece-backing-euro-but-syriza-in-government-another-election-may-beckon-36718
The Conversation, 26.01.15: Greek election exposes the dilemmas of democracy in a globalised world http://theconversation.com/greek-election-exposes-the-dilemmas-of-democracy-in-a-globalised-world-36621
Kathimerini, 26.01.15: Tsipras forms government, plans new legislation http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_26/01/2015_546550
EurActiv, 27.01.15: Germany presses new Greek leaders to maintain reforms http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/germany-presses-new-greek-leaders-maintain-reforms-311572
Notre Europe: Tribune, 26.01.15: Tsipras is not Midas: a break in continuity? http://www.eng.notre-europe.eu/media/tsiprasmidas-bertoncini-jdi-jan15.pdf
EurActiv, 26.01.15: EU open to later Greek debt repayment, not forgiveness http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/eu-open-later-greek-debt-repayment-not-forgiveness-311556
EUObserver, 27.01.15: EU hints at more time, but no Greek write-offs https://euobserver.com/news/127388
EurActiv, 28.01.15: French Socialists inspired by Syriza victory http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/french-socialists-inspired-syriza-victory-311598
Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 27.01.15: Syriza forms coalition with right-wing party http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER157334-Syriza-forms-coalition-with-right-wing-party

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