List of political parties in Greece

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From the restoration of democracy in 1974 to the 2012 elections, the characteristic Greek political system was predominantly a two-party system. The historically dominant parties were New Democracy and the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). Under the electoral system, a party needs to surpass a 3% threshold in the popular vote in order to enter parliament. Until 2023, the largest party used to get a 50-seat bonus (out of 300 seats), ostensibly to ensure elections returned viable governing majorities. The 2023 Greek legislative election was the first and only that was held without the 50-seat bonus rule. Although New Democracy achieved a large percentage of 40.7% and beat the opposition party by 20%, they fell short of forming a majority by 5 seats. The Hellenic Republic had a caretaker prime minister until the June 2023 Greek legislative election was held.

Contents

History

1915–1967

This period was mainly ruled between the right-wing and the centre.

The major parties that emerged were the People’s Party and the Liberal Party. In 1926, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), which would later define the left for years, entered the parliament.

From 1950 to 1963, the predominant parties that won all elections in this period were the People’s Party (later Hellenic Rally) and the National Radical Union (ERE) (both from the right).

1974–2009

After the seven-year dictatorship ended, the former leader of ERE, Konstantinos Karamanlis, was called back from exile to form a new government and then created the New Democracy (ND) party. Monarchy was abolished in 1974, making the political parties the sole determinants of politics in Greece.

Further, 1974 saw the establishment of a new party, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) under Andreas Papandreou, representing a socialist ideology. For the decades to come, PASOK and New Democracy were the two parties that dominated Greek politics, creating a formidable two-party system, with the communist party KKE coming third.

The party system during this period was characterised by strong bureaucratic clientelism.

2009–present

The global economic crisis that heavily affected Greece had an impact in reshaping the party system that had been stagnant for decades. Confidence in the traditional parties declined; this led to the end of the continuous two-party system and single-party governments. There was new movement towards the creation of coalitions and an increase in the number of parties entering parliament.

The party that rose through the crisis was the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA). It finished second on the crucial May 2012 legislative elections and later won the 2015 elections. It was the first party from the left wing in Greece's history to win an election.

A new split in the party system ideology (created during the economic crisis) which was evident in the 2012 elections was a pro- or anti-European stance. This resulted in an unprecedented coalition between the major traditional parties New Democracy and PASOK and the minor party DIMAR. Similarly, the coalition that was created after the 2015 elections between SYRIZA, a left-wing party, and ANEL, a populist right party, was based on their common views regarding Europe.

This period of turmoil also saw the rise of the controversial far-right party Golden Dawn. It became a third party in parliament after the 2015 elections.

In 2018, the past major party PASOK merged with other centrist parties and created the Movement of Change (KINAL) formation.

The elections in 2019 saw a return to a single party government with the continuously dominant New Democracy claiming the majority in parliament.

Parties represented in the current Parliament and European Parliament

PartyAbbreviationLeaderMPsMEPsIdeologyPolitical
position
International
affiliation
European
affiliation
New Democracy Logo 2018.svg New Democracy
Νέα Δημοκρατία
Néa Dimokratía
ND
ΝΔ
Kyriakos Mitsotakis,
president
158 / 300
7 / 21
Liberal conservatism [1]
Christian democracy [2]
Centre-right [3] to right-wing [4] IDU
CDI
EPP
SYRIZA logo 2020.svg Coalition of the Radical Left
Συνασπισμός Ριζοσπαστικής Αριστεράς
Sinaspismós Rizospastikís Aristerás
SYRIZA
ΣΥΡΙΖΑ
Stefanos Kasselakis,
president
36 / 300
4 / 21
Democratic socialism [5]
Social democracy [6]
Centre-left to left-wing None PEL
Panellinio Sosialistiko Kinima Logo.svg Panhellenic Socialist Movement – Movement For Change
Πανελλήνιο Σοσιαλιστικό Κίνημα- Κίνημα Αλλαγής
Panellinio Sosialistiko Kinima - Kínima Allagís
PASOK-KINAL
ΠΑΣΟΚ – ΚΙΝΑΛ
Nikos Androulakis ,
president
31 / 300
3 / 21
Social democracy Centre-left SI
PA
PES
Logo of the Communist Party of Greece.svg Communist Party of Greece
Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας
Kommounistikó Kómma Elládas
KKE Dimitris Koutsoumpas,
general secretary
21 / 300
2 / 21
Communism
Marxism–Leninism
Far-left IMCWP ECA
Greek Solution
Ελληνική Λύση
Ellinikí Lýsi
EL
ΕΛ
Kyriakos Velopoulos,
president
12 / 300
2 / 21
Ultranationalism
National conservatism
Right-wing
to far-right
None ECR
Spartans
Σπαρτιάτες
Spartiátes
S
Σ
Vasilis Stigkas,
president
7 / 300
0 / 21
Neo-fascism
Ultranationalism
Far-right NoneNone
New Left
Νέα Αριστερά
Néa Aristerá
NA
ΝΑ
Alexis Haritsis,
parliamentary leader
11 / 300
0 / 21
Democratic socialism Centre-left to left-wing NoneNone
Democratic Patriotic Movement – Victory
Δημοκρατικό Πατριωτικό Κίνημα – Νίκη
Dimokratikó Patriotikó Kínima – Níki
NIKI
NIKH
Dimitris Natsios,
chairman
10 / 300
1 / 21
National conservatism
Ultraconservatism
Far-right NoneNone
Pleuse Eleutherias.svg Course of Freedom
Πλεύση Ελευθερίας
Plefsi Eleftherias
PE
ΠE
Zoe Konstantopoulou,
president
6 / 300
1 / 21
Anti-establishment
Left-wing nationalism
Left-wing NoneNone
Voice of Reason
Φωνή Λογικής
Foní Loyikís
FL
ΦΛ
Afroditi Latinopoulou,
president
0 / 300
1 / 21
Ultraconservatism
Ultranationalism
Far-right NoneNone

[7] [8]

Minor parties

NameAbbreviationPositionIdeologyLeaderNational affiliationEuropean affiliation MPs MEPs
Agricultural Livestock Party of Greece
Αγροτικό Κτηνοτροφικό Κόμμα Ελλάδος
AKKEL
ΑΚΚΕΛ
Centre Agrarianism
Agrarian reform
Vakis Tsiompanidis Independent Greeks (2015)
United Popular Front-Agricultural Livestock Party of Greece (2019)
European Alliance for Freedom and Democracy 00
Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow
Αντικαπιταλιστική Αριστερή Συνεργασία για την Ανατροπή
ANTARSYA
ΑΝΤΑΡΣΥΑ
Left-wing to far-left Socialism
Anti-capitalism
21 member committeeNoneNone00
Assembly of Greeks
Ελλήνων Συνέλευσις
ESY
ΕΣΥ
Far-right Ultranationalism
Greek nationalism
Artemis Sorras NoneNone00
Christian Democracy
Χριστιανική Δημοκρατία
XD
ΧΔ
Left-wing Christian socialism
Democratic socialism
Giannis ZervosPolitical Initiative (since 2023)None00
Christian Democratic Party of the Overthrow
Χριστιανοδημοκρατικό Κόμμα Ανατροπής
XPIKA
ΧΡΙΚΑ
Centre-right Christian democracy
Conservatism
Nikos Nikolopoulos Union for the Homeland and the People (2014)
Independent Greeks (2015)
Union of Centrists (2019)
Greek Solution 00
Communist Organization of Greece
Κομμουνιστική Οργάνωση Ελλάδας
KOE
ΚΟΕ
Left-wing Communism
Maoism
NoneNone00
Communist Party of Greece (Marxist–Leninist)
Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας (Μαρξιστικό – Λενινιστικό)
KKE(m–l)
ΚΚΕ(μ-λ)
Far-left Marxism–Leninism-Maoism
Anti-revisionism
Grigoris Konstantopoulos Marxist–Leninist Communist Parties of GreeceNone00
Cynical Party of Greece-Diogenis
Κυνικό Κόμμα Ελλάδος-Διογένης
KKE-D
ΚΚΕ-Δ
Big tent Political satire UnknownNoneNone00
Democratic National Reform Union
Ένωση Δημοκρατικής Εθνικής Μεταρρύθμισης
EDEM
ΕΔΕΜ
Centre Liberalism Apostolos Pontas PASOK-KINAL (since 2018)None00
Democratic Social Movement
Δημοκρατικό Κοινωνικό Κίνημα
DΙΚΚΙ
ΔHKKI
Left-wing Social democracy
Socialism
Giorgos Boutris Alliance of the Overthrow None00
Democrats
Δημοκρατικοί
Dem
Δημ
Centre Social liberalism
Economic liberalism
Theodoros Polyzoidis  [ el ] New Democracy None00
Ecologist Greens
Οικολόγοι Πράσινοι
OP
ΟΠ
Left-wing Green politics Konstantinos Ziavras, Alexandra Datseri Ecologist GreensPirate Party of Greece (2014)
SYRIZA (2015–2020)
Ecologist GreensGreen Unity (since 2023)
EGP, G-EFA 00
Ecologists of Greece
Οικολόγοι Ελλάδας
Right-wing Green conservatism Konstantinos Papanikolas NoneNone00
European Realistic Disobedience Front 25
Μέτωπο Ευρωπαϊκής Ρεαλιστικής Ανυπακοής 25
MeRA25
ΜέΡΑ25
Left-wing Democratic socialism
Market socialism [9]
Gianis Varoufakis None DiEM25 00
Fighting Socialist Party of Greece
Αγωνιστικό Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας
ASKE
ΑΣΚΕ
Left-wing Democratic socialism
Left-wing nationalism
NoneNone00
Free Citizens
Ελεύθεροι Πολίτες
Centre-left Social democracy Michalis Nikitakis NoneNone00
Free People Movement
Κίνημα Ελεύθερων Ανθρώπων
KELAN
ΚΕΛΑΝ
Centre-right to far-right National conservatism
Right-wing populism
Paris Kourtzidis Greek Overthrow None00
Greece, Another Path
Ελλάδα, ο άλλος δρόμος
ANOTHER PATH
ΑΛΛΟΣ ΔΡΟΜΟΣ
Centre-right to right-wing National conservatism
Notis Marias None ECR 00
Greek Ecologists
Έλληνες Οικολόγοι
EO
EO
Ecologism
Social progressivism
Dimosthenis Vergis NoneNone00
Greek Unity
Ελληνική Ενότητα
EL.EN
ΕΛ.ΕΝ
Right-wing to far-right Greek nationalism Vasilis Protopapas NoneNone00
Greens-Solidarity
Πράσινοι-Αλληλεγγύη
Greens
Πράσινοι
Centre-left Green politics Nikos Chrysogelos Prasino+Mov (since 2022)None00
I Don't Pay Movement
Κίνημα Δεν Πληρώνω
Far-left Socialism
Anti-capitalism
Vasilis Papadopoulos Course of Freedom None00
Independent Greeks
Ανεξάρτητοι Έλληνες
ANEL
ΑΝΕΛ
Centre-right Conservatism Panos Kammenos NoneNone00
Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Greece
Μαρξιστικό-Λενινιστικό Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας
M-L KKE
Μ-Λ ΚΚΕ
Far-left Marxism–Leninism-Maoism
Anti-revisionism
Antonis PapadopoulosMarxist–Leninist Communist Parties of GreeceNone00
Movement for the Reorganization of the Communist Party of Greece 1918–1955
Κίνηση για την Ανασύνταξη του ΚΚΕ 1918–55
Anasintaxi
Ανασυνταξη
Far-left Marxism–Leninism
Stalinism
Tasos MpallosNoneNone00
Movement of Democratic Socialists
Κίνημα Δημοκρατών Σοσιαλιστών
KIDISO
ΚΙΔΗΣΟ
Centre-left Social democracy George Papandreou PASOK-KINAL None 1 0
National Front
Εθνικό Mέτωπο
EM
ΕΜ
Far-right Ultranationalism
Greek nationalism
Emmanouil Konstas NoneNone00
National Hope
Εθνική Ελπίδα
EE
EE
Right wing to far-right National conservatism
Monarchism
Giorgos Papadopoulos NoneNone00
National Party - Greeks
Εθνικό Kόμμα - Έλληνες
GREEKS
ΕΛΛΗΝΕΣ
Far-right National conservatism Anti-immigration Dimitris Chatziliadis NoneNone00
National Unity Association
Σύνδεσμος Εθνικής Ενότητας
SEE
ΣΕΕ
Right-wing Patriotism
National conservatism
Nikos Alikakos NoneNone00
New Right
Νέα Δεξιά
ΝEDE
ΝΕΔΕ
Far-right National conservatism Greek nationalism Failos Kranidiotis none ID 00
Organization for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party of Greece
Οργάνωση για την Ανασυγκρότηση του Κομουνιστικού Κόμματος Ελλάδας
OAKKE
ΟΑΚΚΕ
Far-left Communism Elias Zafiropoulos NoneNone00
Organisation of Internationalist Communists of Greece
Οργάνωση Κομμουνιστών Διεθνιστών Ελλάδας
OKDE
ΟΚΔΕ
Far-left Communism
Trotskyism
NoneNone00
Panathinaikos Movement
Παναθηναικό Κίνημα
PAN.KI.
ΠΑN.KI.
Centre Ioannis AlevizosNoneNone00
Panhellenic Citizen Chariot
Πανελλήνιο Άρμα Πολιτών
PARP
ΠΑΡΠ
Centre-left Giannis Dimaras  [ el ] Independent Greeks (2012–2014)
Union of Centrists (2019)
None00
Party of Friendship, Equality and Peace
Κόμμα Ισότητας, Ειρήνης και Φιλίας
Dostluk-Eşitlik-Barış Partisi
KIEF
ΚΙΕΦ
DEBP
Centre Turkish minority interests
Centrism
Çiğdem Asafoğlu NoneNone00
Party of Greek Hunters
Κόμμα Ελλήνων Κυνηγών
KEK
ΚΕΚ
Centre-right Conservatism Giorgos Tsagkanelias NoneNone00
Patriots
Πατριώτες
PD-PE
ΠΔ - ΠΕ
Far-right National conservatism Anti-immigration Prodromos Emfietzoglou NoneNone00
Patriotic Force for Change
Πατριωτική Δύναμη Αλλαγής
PATRIDA
ΠΑΤΡΙΔΑ
Far-right National conservatism Anti-immigration Konstantinos Bogdanos NoneNone00
Pirate Party of Greece
Κόμμα Πειρατών Ελλάδας
KPE
ΚΠΕ
Freedom of information
Direct democracy
Collective leadership (management board) Ecologist GreensPirate Party of Greece (2014)

Prasino+Mov (since 2022)

PPEU,
supported G-EFA
00
Popular Greek Patriotic Union
Λαϊκή Ελληνική Πατριωτική Ένωση
LE.P.EN.
ΛΕ.Π.ΕΝ.
Far-right Greek nationalism
Anti-immigration
Christos Rigas Greeks for the Fatherland APF 00
Popular Orthodox Rally
Λαϊκός Ορθόδοξος Συναγερμός
LA.O.S
ΛΑ.Ο.Σ
Far-right Greek nationalism
Conservatism
Filippos Kampouris None MELD 00
Popular Unions of Bipartisan Social Groups
Λαϊκές Ενώσεις Υπερκομματικών Κοινωνικών Ομάδων
L.E.F.K.O.
Λ.Ε.Υ.Κ.Ο.
Konstantinos Dalios Independent Greeks (2015)None00
Popular Unity-Insubordinate Left
Λαϊκή Ενότητα-Ανυπότακτη Αριστερά
LAE-AA
ΛΑΕ-AA
Left-wing to
far-left
Democratic socialism [10]
Left-wing populism
Dimitris Stratoulis, Marianna Tsixli MeRA25-Alliance for the Rupture None00
Rainbow
Ουράνιο Τόξο
Виножито
Centre Slavic Macedonian minority rights
Regionalism
Collective leadershipNone European Free Alliance 00
Recreate Greece
Δημιουργία Ξανά
DIXAN
ΔHΞAN
Right-wing Neoliberalism [11] [12] [13]
Anti-immigration
Vaggelis Aktsalis None ALDE 00
Social Agreement
Κοινωνική Συμφωνία
KOISY
ΚΟΙΣΥ
Centre-left Social democracy
Democratic socialism
Louka Katseli SYRIZA None00
Society First
Η Κοινωνία Πρώτα
H.K.P
Η.Κ.Π
Left wing Democratic socialism
Socialism
Stefanos Katsaras SYRIZA None00
Society of Values
Κοινωνία Αξιών
Centre Liberalism Stelios Fenekos  [ el ] The River (2019) Society of ValuesLiberal Alliance None00
Smoking Groups for Art and Visual Art
Καπνιστικές Ομάδες για την Τέχνη και την Εικαστική Συγκρότηση
K.O.T.E.S.
Κ.Ο.Τ.Ε.Σ.
Legalization of smoking Nikos Louvros SYRIZA (2019) , KKE None00
Start – Socialist Internationalist Organisation
Ξεκίνημα – Σοσιαλιστική Διεθνιστική Οργάνωση
Χ
Ξ
Far-left Trotskyism
Democratic socialism
NoneNoneNone00
Union of Centrists
Ένωση Κεντρώων
E.K.
Ε.Κ.
Centre Venizelism
National liberalism
Vasilis Leventis None European Democratic Party 00
United Popular Front
Ενιαίο Παλλαϊκό Μέτωπο
EPAM
ΕΠΑΜ
None Patriotism
Greek nationalism
Dimitris Kazakis Alliance of the Overthrow None00
Voice of Logic
Φωνή Λογικής
FL
ΦΛ
Far-right National conservatism Anti-immigration Afroditi Latinopoulou None Patriots For Europe 0 1
Volt Greece
Βολτ Ελλάδας
VOLT
ΒΟΛΤ
Centre Social liberalism
Progressivism
Evangelos Liaras, Theodora Fabricezi Prasino+Mov (2022–2023) Volt Europa 00
Workers Revolutionary Party
Εργατικό Επαναστατικό Κόμμα
EEK
ΕΕΚ
Far-left Communism
Trotskyism
Savas Matsas NoneNone00

Defunct parties

Parties during the reign of King Otto (1833–1862)

Parties during the reign of King George I (1863–1913)

Parties during the reign of King Constantine I - Alexander – George II (1913–1924)

Parties during the Second Hellenic Republic (1924–1935)

Parties during the restoration of King George II (1936–1946)

Parties during the reigns of Kings Paul and Constantine II (1946–1973)

Parties during the Third Hellenic Republic (1974–present)

See also

Further reading

References

  1. José M. Magone (2003). The Politics of Southern Europe: Integration Into the European Union. Praeger. p. 148. ISBN   978-0-275-97787-0.
  2. Norman Schofield; Gonzalo Caballero (11 June 2011). Political Economy of Institutions, Democracy and Voting. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 320. ISBN   978-3-642-19519-8.
  3. Robert Thomson (2011). Resolving Controversy in the European Union: Legislative Decision-Making before and after Enlargement. Cambridge University Press. p. 90. ISBN   978-1-139-50517-8.
  4. Souli, Sarah (15 January 2020). "For Migrants and Refugees, Greece Has Become Hostile Territory". www.worldpoliticsreview.com. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  5. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "Greece". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  6. John Milios (December 2016). "SYRIZA: From 'Subversion' to Centre-Left Pragmatism" (PDF). National Technical University of Athens.
  7. "Per Parliamentary Group". www.hellenicparliament.gr. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  8. "Advanced search | Search | MEPs | European Parliament | Greece". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  9. Yanis Varoufakis: From an Economics without Capitalism to Markets without Capitalism | DiEM25 , retrieved 16 October 2021
  10. "Introducing Popular Unity". Jacobin Magazine. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  11. "2012 Greek (2nd) Parliamentary Post-Election Report". 19 June 2012.
  12. "Θάνος Τζήμερος: Ένας γνήσιος εκφραστής του νεοφιλελευθερισμού".
  13. "Η δεξιά του νεοφιλελευθερισμού".