2023 Patras municipal election

2023 Patras municipal election

← 2019 8 October 2023 (2023-10-08) (First Round) 15 October 2023 (2023-10-15) (Second Round) 2029 →
Registered	165,701
Turnout	54.14% (First Round) 44.42% (Second Round)
ND PAS Candidate Kostas Peletidis Konstantinos Svolis Vasileios Aivalis Party KKE New Democracy without Party Support PASOK with PASOK and Syriza support Alliance Laiki Syspirosi Dimou Patreon (Popular Coalition of Patras Municipality) Patra Enomeni (United Patras) Patra Spoudaia kai Pali (Patras Glorious Again) First round 34,774 39.95% 22,226 25.53% 17,156 19.71% Second round 40,577 56.69% 31,003 43.31% Eliminated   Ind Candidate Petros Psomas Party Independent Alliance Spiral Popular vote 12,890 Percentage 14.81% Second round Eliminated
Mayor before election Kostas Peletidis KKE Elected mayor Kostas Peletidis KKE

2023 Patras Municipal election was held on 8 October 2023 to elect the mayor of Patras as a part of the 2023 Greek Local elections. It moved to a second round run-off that took place a week later, on 15 October, between incumbent Kostas Peletidis backed by KKE and New Democracy supporter Kostantinos Svolis with no party support.

As all municipal elections in Greece the system used is one of 2-round proportional representation with reinforced proportinality.

KKE candidate Kostas Peletidis got reelected to the position of mayor with a smaller percentage in contrast to the last time but also became one of the few KKE candidates that came victorious in the 2023 Greek Local elections. Receiving an absolute 3/5s majority in the municipal council as per a new electoral law.

Background

Previous Election

Incumbent KKE candidate Kostas Peletidis came first with 40.6% winning 20 out of the 49 seats, with Independent candidate Grigoris Alexopoulos coming second being defeated in the second round with KKE candidate being ahead with an over 40 point margin, yet this being with the previous electoral law Peletidis failed to achieve a full majority in the council. ^[1]

2019 Patras municipal election result

List		Seats	Vote share 1st	Vote share 2nd
	Laiki Syspirosi Patras	20	40.60	70.86
	Protevousa Xana!	8	16.01	29.14
	Patra Enomeni	7	13.97
	Nea Patra	4	7.58
	Ora Patron	3	6.68
	Spiral	1	6.38
	Patra: I diki mas Poli!	1	2.63
	Dimotiki kinisi koinotiton	1	2.03
	Patra Diethnis Sychroni Poli	1	1.85
	Anypotakti Politeia	1	1.43
	Antarsia gia tin Patra	0	0.42
	Antikapitalistiki Anatropi - Antarsia stin Patra	0	0.42

Source: ^[2]

Electoral System

The New Democracy government changed the law on local elections, enacting "Law 4804/2021". As per this law, "The distribution of municipal or regional council seats between the successful and runner-up list is done by a system of Reinforced proportionality, so that the successful combination holds at least 3/5 of the council seats.". Also stating that when it comes to the percentage needed for a list to enter the council and the percentage needed or the elections to lack a second round that "[...] in order for a list to be entitled to at least one seat on the municipal or district council, it must receive at least 3% of the valid ballots in the first round of elections. The combination that received at least 43% of the valid ballots plus one vote in the first round is declared successful and its head is elected mayor or regional governor." ^{[3] [4]}

Results

Candidate		List	Party Support		% First Round	Votes 1st Round	% Second Round	Votes 2nd Round	Seats
	Kostas Peletidis	Popular Coalition Of Thessaloniki		KKE	39.95	34,774	56,69	40,577	26
	Kostantinos Svolis	United Patras		Independent	27,34	26.100	32,67	24.413	7
	Vasileios Aivalis	Patras Glorious Again		PASOK and Syriza	19,71	17.156			6
	Spyros Pegkas	Spiral		Independent	14,81	12.890			4

Source: ^[5]

References

1. IEFIMERIDA.GR, NEWSROOM (2019-06-03). "Δημοτικές εκλογές 2019: Επανεκλογή Πελετίδη στην Πάτρα με 71%". iefimerida.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2025-03-01.
2. "Municipal elections – May 2019"
3. "Νόμος 4804/2021 (Κωδικοποιημένος) - ΦΕΚ Α 90/05.06.2021". www.kodiko.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2025-01-27.
4. "Τοπική Αυτοδιοίκηση: Εκλογές μόνο σε ένα γύρο - Προς σαρωτικές αλλαγές στο εκλογικό σύστημα". www.naftemporiki.gr (in Greek). 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
5. 2023 Patras municipal election Results ypes.gov Retrieved 1 March 2025