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Polls Close in Greece in Tight Election for a New Leader Alexis Tsipras Poised to Regain Greek Leadership After Opponent Concedes
(35 minutes later)
ATHENS — Polls closed in Greece on Sunday evening after voters cast their ballots for a new government for the fifth time in six years, with many Greeks exhausted by the country’s fractious politics and believing that any new leader would have little influence on the nation’s direction. ATHENS — Alexis Tsipras, who won election as Greece’s prime minister in January on an anti-austerity platform that he was later forced to abandon, appeared on Sunday to have been returned to power by Greek voters after his main opponent conceded defeat.
The jostling news crews, the abundant posters and the clusters of party representatives at the doors of the polling stations, so prevalent in the last elections in January, were largely missing this time. But in some areas, at least, there seemed to be no lack of interest on Sunday as even the elderly, resting on walkers, quietly made their way to cast a ballot. With a quarter of the vote counted, Mr. Tsipras’s left-wing Syriza party led with 35.4 percent to 28.1 percent for New Democracy, the main right-leaning party. The third largest number of votes was for the Golden Dawn, the neo-fascist party, which was polling at 7.3 percent, about 1 percentage point higher than in January’s election.
Initial exit polls as well as pre-election surveys suggested that the outcome would be close. New Democracy’s leader, Evangelos Meimarakis, conceded the race about 90 minutes after the polls closed, telling reporters that he congratulated Mr. Tsipras and called on him to form a government.
Alexis Tsipras, Greece’s leftist prime minister until he resigned last month to call new elections, had hoped to increase his Syriza party’s parliamentary majority, while ridding Syriza of its more radical elements, who have now split off and are calling for Greece to leave the euro currency zone. “A battle is finished,” he said, “one that we gave with seriousness and dignity.”
But the charismatic Mr. Tsipras, 41, was unable to rouse Greek voters as he did in the beginning of the year, when he was promising to go head-to-head with the country’s creditors and vowing to accept no further austerity measures. Backed by many economists, Mr. Tsipras had argued that excessive budget cutting in the name of debt reduction had choked off economic growth and contributed to pervasive unemployment and underemployment. It was not immediately clear whether Syriza would win enough seats to govern on its own or whether it would again need to govern in a coalition, as it did from January until August, when Mr. Tsipras called a new election, the fifth for Greece in six years.
Mr. Tsipras had gambled that calling an election, he could consolidate his power and rid Syriza of its more radical left elements, who have now split off and are calling for Greece to leave the euro currency zone.
During the campaign, the charismatic Mr. Tsipras, 41, was unable to rouse Greek voters as he did in the beginning of the year, when he was promising to go head-to-head with the country’s creditors and vowing to accept no further austerity measures. Backed by many economists, Mr. Tsipras had argued that excessive budget cutting in the name of debt reduction had choked off economic growth and contributed to pervasive unemployment and underemployment.
This summer, after a chaotic showdown with Greece’s creditors — the other countries that use the euro, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund — Mr. Tsipras gave in and accepted a new package of budget cuts, tax increases and other economic policy changes in return for another 86 billion euros, or $97.2 billion, in aid necessary to reopen the country’s banks and avert default on its loans.This summer, after a chaotic showdown with Greece’s creditors — the other countries that use the euro, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund — Mr. Tsipras gave in and accepted a new package of budget cuts, tax increases and other economic policy changes in return for another 86 billion euros, or $97.2 billion, in aid necessary to reopen the country’s banks and avert default on its loans.
At first he seemed to maintain his popularity among Greek voters just for having fought so hard. But in recent days crowds at his rallies were anemic. Pollsters, though often unreliable in Greece, have for weeks been forecasting a close race between Mr. Tsipras and Evangelos Meimarakis, 61, the leader of the center-right New Democracy party. At first he seemed to maintain his popularity among Greek voters just for having fought so hard. But in recent days crowds at his rallies were anemic. Pollsters, though often unreliable in Greece, had for weeks been forecasting a close race between Mr. Tsipras and Mr. Meimarakis, 61.
Outside the polling station in the working-class neighborhood of Koukaki, many voters said they still applauded Mr. Tsipras’s gumption even if he had failed to change Greece’s relationship with the creditors. More than that, they said they liked his youth and his distance from the corrupt politics of the past, which they said served the interests of Greeks oligarchs rather than those of the average citizen.Outside the polling station in the working-class neighborhood of Koukaki, many voters said they still applauded Mr. Tsipras’s gumption even if he had failed to change Greece’s relationship with the creditors. More than that, they said they liked his youth and his distance from the corrupt politics of the past, which they said served the interests of Greeks oligarchs rather than those of the average citizen.
“He is much younger, more spontaneous,” said Costas Kapnisakis, 64, a retired math teacher, who voted for Mr. Tsipras. “He is more dynamic, more confident. I am disappointed about the U-turn, of course. But I still think he is better than the old ways.”“He is much younger, more spontaneous,” said Costas Kapnisakis, 64, a retired math teacher, who voted for Mr. Tsipras. “He is more dynamic, more confident. I am disappointed about the U-turn, of course. But I still think he is better than the old ways.”
Giannis Papadopoulos, 30, and his wife, Maria, 29, said they wanted to give Mr. Tsipras a second chance, too. Others, however, disagreed vehemently. As they talked about their support for Mr. Tsipras, an elderly voter passed by and expressed her opinion. “A second chance to take us to hell,” she yelled.Giannis Papadopoulos, 30, and his wife, Maria, 29, said they wanted to give Mr. Tsipras a second chance, too. Others, however, disagreed vehemently. As they talked about their support for Mr. Tsipras, an elderly voter passed by and expressed her opinion. “A second chance to take us to hell,” she yelled.
In the middle-class neighborhood of Mets, Andreas Tsinas, the 55-year-old owner of a moving company, said he voted for New Democracy, saying it is “the only hope for some kind of stability.”In the middle-class neighborhood of Mets, Andreas Tsinas, the 55-year-old owner of a moving company, said he voted for New Democracy, saying it is “the only hope for some kind of stability.”
A lifelong conservative supporter, he defected to another party in the January elections, he said, because he had had enough of austerity, though he would not say which party he backed then. After Syriza’s short stint in power, however, he was compelled to return to New Democracy.A lifelong conservative supporter, he defected to another party in the January elections, he said, because he had had enough of austerity, though he would not say which party he backed then. After Syriza’s short stint in power, however, he was compelled to return to New Democracy.
“It’s not that New Democracy won me back, it’s the others. They made such a mess of things that we have to keep them out,” he said, adding that the capital controls imposed in July when the country was on the brink of default dealt a serious blow to his business. “It almost finished us off,” he said.“It’s not that New Democracy won me back, it’s the others. They made such a mess of things that we have to keep them out,” he said, adding that the capital controls imposed in July when the country was on the brink of default dealt a serious blow to his business. “It almost finished us off,” he said.
There could hardly be more at stake in Sunday’s vote. The next government will need to continue implementing deep economic reforms required by the €86 billion bailout agreement Mr. Tsipras brokered in August, a recapitalization of the country’s banks, and the unwinding of capital controls.There could hardly be more at stake in Sunday’s vote. The next government will need to continue implementing deep economic reforms required by the €86 billion bailout agreement Mr. Tsipras brokered in August, a recapitalization of the country’s banks, and the unwinding of capital controls.
A misstep could send the country crashing out of the eurozone. Greece’s relations with Europe are in a fragile state, and several of its leaders are showing impatience, unlikely to tolerate the foot-dragging of past administrations. Under the terms of the bailout, Greece must pass dozens of new laws before the end of the year, many of them measures that were supposed to be passed years ago.A misstep could send the country crashing out of the eurozone. Greece’s relations with Europe are in a fragile state, and several of its leaders are showing impatience, unlikely to tolerate the foot-dragging of past administrations. Under the terms of the bailout, Greece must pass dozens of new laws before the end of the year, many of them measures that were supposed to be passed years ago.
On the horizon, too, is the growing refugee crisis, with Greece squarely in the middle of it geographically. Thousands have used the country as a steppingstone toward other parts of Europe. But Greece does not have the resources to provide food and shelter and it is terrified that other countries will close their borders, leaving waves of newcomers to back up on its shores.On the horizon, too, is the growing refugee crisis, with Greece squarely in the middle of it geographically. Thousands have used the country as a steppingstone toward other parts of Europe. But Greece does not have the resources to provide food and shelter and it is terrified that other countries will close their borders, leaving waves of newcomers to back up on its shores.
Some pundits have suggested that the prime minister’s job would be so difficult and, in the end, so career-killing, that no one really wanted it.Some pundits have suggested that the prime minister’s job would be so difficult and, in the end, so career-killing, that no one really wanted it.
One cartoon in the conservative newspaper Kathimerini earlier this month showed Mr. Tspiras waking up in a sweat next to his wife. “I had a nightmare,” he says, “that I was re-elected.”One cartoon in the conservative newspaper Kathimerini earlier this month showed Mr. Tspiras waking up in a sweat next to his wife. “I had a nightmare,” he says, “that I was re-elected.”
Unless someone wins an overwhelming majority, many analysts here say the outcome could be an unstable coalition government. Mr. Meimarakis has promised a quick coalition, saying he willing to work even with Syriza. But many experts say the two leaders in the race are unlikely to partner, in part because of ideological differences, in part because they do not like each other.Unless someone wins an overwhelming majority, many analysts here say the outcome could be an unstable coalition government. Mr. Meimarakis has promised a quick coalition, saying he willing to work even with Syriza. But many experts say the two leaders in the race are unlikely to partner, in part because of ideological differences, in part because they do not like each other.
Under some scenarios, Syriza officials have begun discussing a strategy that would more or less restore the balance in the previous Parliament. Mr. Tsipras would partner again with the right wing Independent Greeks and govern with a minority. This time, however, Mr. Tsipras would have a more stable party because the most radical fringe of Syriza would no longer be there.Under some scenarios, Syriza officials have begun discussing a strategy that would more or less restore the balance in the previous Parliament. Mr. Tsipras would partner again with the right wing Independent Greeks and govern with a minority. This time, however, Mr. Tsipras would have a more stable party because the most radical fringe of Syriza would no longer be there.
Others point out that there is still much disagreement within Syriza and Mr. Tsipras could find himself navigating precarious alliances again soon.Others point out that there is still much disagreement within Syriza and Mr. Tsipras could find himself navigating precarious alliances again soon.