The 2015 Greek legislative election scheduled to be held on Sunday Sep 20,2015 has been neccessiated following the resignation of PM Alexis Tspiras on Aug 20,2015
This will be the fourth Greek election to be held in less than three and a half years.
Background to the election
After several months of negotiations, on 12 July 2015, the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras came to an agreement with lenders for a new European Stability Mechanism program.
Greece will get a loan of up to € 86 billion, which shall be handed gradually from 2015 until June 2018, including a buffer of up to € 25 billion for the banking sector
In return, Greece will have to streamline the VAT system and broaden the tax base to increase revenue, reform the pension system, safeguard the full legal independence of the Hellenic Statistical Authority, automatically cut public spending to get primary surpluses, reform justice with a view to accelerate the judicial process and reduce costs, implement all OECD toolkit I recommendations, modernise labour market legislation, modernise and strengthen the Greek administration, revoke the laws passed by the Tsipras government counter to the February 20 agreement—except for the one concerning the "humanitarian crisis"— or identify clear compensatory equivalents for the vested rights that were subsequently created (e.g. for the rehiring of fired public servants), recapitalize the banks, and privatize 50 billion of state assets
On August 14,2015,after a rancorous all-night debate, the Greek Parliamen backed the country's new bailout deal, although more than 40 MPs from Syriza either voted against the deal or abstained, and Tsipras had to rely on the support of three opposition parties - New Democracy,To Potami and PASOK
Although the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras passed the bailout agreement through the Parliament and did not face any No-Confidence Motion, the fact that 43 of Syriza's 149 MPs had either opposed the bailout or abstained meant that he had effectively lost his parliamentary majority. Therefore, on 20 August, following the first disbursement of the initial tranche of the third bailout agreement, Tsipras submitted the resignation of his government
The Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos named Vassiliki Thanou Christophilou, President of the Court of Cassation , as interim prime minister, with the task of leading Greece to the elections
On August 28,2015,Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos issued a presidential decree for the dissolution of the Parliament and the holding of a snap legislative election on 20 September 2015
Opinion Polls
Six polls have predicted the leftist Syriza party, which only got into government nine months ago, will get the most votes on sunday Sep 20,2015
The rival conservative party, New Democracy, is just a few points behind, with many claiming the latest polls prove neither will secure the 38 per cent share of the vote needed for a majority in the 300-seat parliament.
Former Greek prime minister and leader of leftist Syriza party Alexis Tsipras casts his ballot for the general elections at a polling station in Athens, Greece.
Vangelis Meimarakis , the leader of the main opposition party, New Democracy,casts his ballot at a polling station in Athens on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015.
This will be the fourth Greek election to be held in less than three and a half years.
- Election held on Jan 25,2015 -election was held earlier than scheduled due to the failure of the Greek parliament to elect a new President on Dec 29,2014
- Election held on June 12,2012
- Election held on May 06,,2012 -All attempts to form a Govt failed
Background to the election
After several months of negotiations, on 12 July 2015, the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras came to an agreement with lenders for a new European Stability Mechanism program.
Greece will get a loan of up to € 86 billion, which shall be handed gradually from 2015 until June 2018, including a buffer of up to € 25 billion for the banking sector
In return, Greece will have to streamline the VAT system and broaden the tax base to increase revenue, reform the pension system, safeguard the full legal independence of the Hellenic Statistical Authority, automatically cut public spending to get primary surpluses, reform justice with a view to accelerate the judicial process and reduce costs, implement all OECD toolkit I recommendations, modernise labour market legislation, modernise and strengthen the Greek administration, revoke the laws passed by the Tsipras government counter to the February 20 agreement—except for the one concerning the "humanitarian crisis"— or identify clear compensatory equivalents for the vested rights that were subsequently created (e.g. for the rehiring of fired public servants), recapitalize the banks, and privatize 50 billion of state assets
On August 14,2015,after a rancorous all-night debate, the Greek Parliamen backed the country's new bailout deal, although more than 40 MPs from Syriza either voted against the deal or abstained, and Tsipras had to rely on the support of three opposition parties - New Democracy,To Potami and PASOK
Although the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras passed the bailout agreement through the Parliament and did not face any No-Confidence Motion, the fact that 43 of Syriza's 149 MPs had either opposed the bailout or abstained meant that he had effectively lost his parliamentary majority. Therefore, on 20 August, following the first disbursement of the initial tranche of the third bailout agreement, Tsipras submitted the resignation of his government
The Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos named Vassiliki Thanou Christophilou, President of the Court of Cassation , as interim prime minister, with the task of leading Greece to the elections
On August 28,2015,Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos issued a presidential decree for the dissolution of the Parliament and the holding of a snap legislative election on 20 September 2015
Opinion Polls
Six polls have predicted the leftist Syriza party, which only got into government nine months ago, will get the most votes on sunday Sep 20,2015
The rival conservative party, New Democracy, is just a few points behind, with many claiming the latest polls prove neither will secure the 38 per cent share of the vote needed for a majority in the 300-seat parliament.
Former Greek prime minister and leader of leftist Syriza party Alexis Tsipras casts his ballot for the general elections at a polling station in Athens, Greece.
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