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, 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 parliamentary election was held.
Country
Greece
Inception
2001
Article
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 parliamentary 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 2008 financial crisis and the Greek government-debt crisis 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.
Defunct parties
Parties during the reign of King Otto (1833–1862)
English Party (Greek: Αγγλικό Κόμμα) (liberal, pro-English) (1824–1863)
French Party (Greek: Γαλλικό Κόμμα) (liberal, pro-French) (1824–1863)
Russian Party (Greek: Ρώσικο Κόμμα) (conservative, pro-Russian) (1825–1863)
Party of Radicals (Greek: Κόμμα των Ριζοσπαστών) (radical, pro-union) (1848–1864) in the United States of the Ionian Islands
Parties during the reign of King George I (1863–1913)
Liberal Party (Greek: Κόμμα Φιλελευθέρων) (Liberal) (1910–1961)
National Party (Greek: Κόμμα Εθνικόφρονων, K.E.) – Komma Ethnikofronon, KE (conservative, nationalist) (1865–1909)
Modernist Party (Greek: Νεωτεριστικόν Κομμα, Ν.Κ.) – Neoteristikon Komma, ΝΚ (Liberal, Liberal Nationalist) (1875–1910)
Parties during the reign of King Constantine I - Alexander – George II (1913–1924)
Freethinkers' Party (Greek: Κόμμα των Ελευθερόφρονων K.E.) – Komma Eleftherofronon (Nationalist, Royalist) (1922–1936)
Liberal Party (Greek: Κόμμα Φιλελευθέρων) (Liberal, Liberal Nationalist) (1910–1961)
People's Party (Greek: Λαϊκόν Κόμμα Λ.Κ.) – Laiko Komma, LK (Conservative, Royalist) (1920–1958)
Parties during the Second Hellenic Republic (1924–1935)
Agrarian Party (Greek: Άγροτικό Κόμμα, A.K.) – Agrotikon Komma, AK (1926–1956)
Democratic Socialist Party of Greece (Greek: Δημοκρατικό Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδος, ΔΣΚ) – Demokratiko Sosialistiko Komma Ellados, DSK (Democratic Socialist) (1935–1950)
Farmers' and Workers' Party (Greek: Άγροτικόν και Έργατικόν Κόμμα, Α.Ε.Κ.) – Agrotikon kai Ergatikon Komma/Agrotergatiko Komma, AEK (Rural radical) (1932–1936)
General People's Radical Union (Greek: Γενική Λαïκή Ριζοσπαστική Ένωση, Γ.Λ.Ρ.Ε) – Geniki Laiki Rizospastiki Enosis, GLRE (1932–1936)
Liberal Party (Greek: Κόμμα Φιλελευθέρων) – Komma Fileleutheron (Liberal, Liberal Nationalist) (1910–1961)
Greek National Socialist Party (Greek: Ελληνικό Εθνικό Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα) – Elliniko Ethniko Sosialistiko Komma (National Socialist) (1932)
Jewish Political Union (Greek: Εβραϊκή Πολιτική Ένωση) – Evraiki Politiki Enosi (1926–1932)
Macedonian Union (Greek: Μακεδονική Ένωση) – Makedoniki Enosi (Conservative) (1935)
National Radical Party (Greek: Εθνική Ριζοσπαστική Κόμμα, E.Ρ.K.) – Ethnikon Rizospastikon Komma, ERK (Conservative) (1932–1936)
Parties during the restoration of King George II (1936–1946)
Agrarian Party (Greek: Άγροτικό Κόμμα, A.K.) – Agrotikon Komma, AK (1926–1956)
Democratic Socialist Party of Greece (Greek: Δημοκρατικό Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδος, ΔΣΚ) – Demokratiko Sosialistiko Komma Ellados, DSK (Democratic Socialist) (1935–1950)
Farmers' and Workers' Party (Greek: Άγροτικόν και Έργατικόν Κόμμα, Α.Ε.Κ.) – Agrotikon kai Ergatikon Komma/Agrotergatiko Komma, AEK (Rural radical) (1932–1936)
General People's Radical Union (Greek: Γενική Λαïκή Ριζοσπαστική Ένωση, Γ.Λ.Ρ.Ε) – Geniki Laiki Rizospastiki Enosis, GLRE (??) (1932–1936)
Liberal Party (Greek: Κόμμα Φιλελευθέρων) – Komma Fileleutheron (Liberal, Liberal Nationalist) (1910–1961)
National Party of Greece (Greek: Εθνικόν Κόμμα 'Ελλάδος, E.Κ.E.) – Ethnikon Komma Ellados, E.K.E. (Monarchist, Conservative) (1946–1967)
National People's Party (Greek: Εθνικόν Λαϊκόν Κόμμα, E.Λ.Κ.) – Ethniko Laiko Komma, E.L.K. (1936)
National Political Union (Greek: Εθνική Πολιτική Ένωσις, Ε.Π.Ε.) – Ethniki Politiki Enosis, E.P.E. (Liberal) (1946)
National Radical Party (Greek: Εθνική Ριζοσπαστική Κόμμα, E.Ρ.K.) – Ethnikon Rizospastikon Komma, ERK (Conservative) (1932–1936)
Parties during the reigns of Kings Paul and Constantine II (1946–1973)
4th of August Party (Greek: Κόμμα 4ης Αυγούστου) – Kómma 4is Avgoústou, Κ4Α (Nationalist) (1965–1977)
Center Union (Greek: Ένωση Κέντρου) – Enosi Kentrou, E.K. (Liberal) (1961–1967)
Christian Democracy (Greek: Χριστιανική Δημοκρατία) – Christianikē Dēmokratia (socialist) (1963)
Communist Party of Greece (Interior) (Greek: Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας Εσωτερικού) – KKE Esoterikou (Eurocommunism) (1968–1986)
Democratic Socialist Party of Greece (Greek: Δημοκρατικό Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδος, ΔΣΚ) – Demokratiko Sosialistiko Komma Ellados, DSK (Democratic Socialist) (1935–1950)
Politically Independent Alignment (Greek: Πολιτική Ανεξάρτητός Παράταξις, Π.Α.Π.) – Politiki Anexartitos Parataxis, PAP (Metaxist) (1950–?)
Left Liberals (Greek: Αριστεροί Φιλελεύθεροι, Α.Φ.) – Aristeroi Fileleutheroi, AF (communist) (1950–?)
Liberal Democratic Center (Greek: Φιλελεύθερον Δημοκρατικόν Κέντρον, Φ.Δ.Κ.) – Filelefthero Dimokratiko Kentro, FDK (Liberal) (1965–1966)
Liberal Democratic Union (Greek: Φιλελεύθερη Δημοκρατική Ένωση, Φ.Δ.Ε.) (1956–1957)
Liberal Party (Greek: Κόμμα Φιλελευθέρων) (Liberal, Liberal Nationalist) (1910–1961)
Parties during the Third Hellenic Republic (1974–present)
Centre Union - New Forces (Greek: Ένωσις Κέντρου-Νέες Δυνάμεις) – Enosi Kentrou-Nees Dynameis (Social Democratic, Liberal) (1974–1977)
Coalition of Left, of Movements and Ecology (Greek: Συνασπισμός της Αριστεράς,των Κινημάτων και της Οικολογίας, ΣΥΝ.) – Synaspismos tis Aristeras, ton Kinimaton kai tis Oikologias, SYN (Eurocommunism, Democratic socialism) (1991–2013)
National Political Union (Greek: Εθνική Πολιτική Ένωσις, Ε.Π.ΕΝ.) – Ethniki Politiki Enosis, E.P.EN. (Rightist, Nationalist) (1984–1996)
National Popular Consciousness (Greek: Eθνική Λαϊκή Συνείδηση, Ε.ΛΑ.ΣΥΝ.) - Ethniki Laiki Syneidisi, E.LA.SYN. (Far Right, Greek Nationalism, Anti - immigration, National Conservatism, Euroscepticism) (2019-2023)
New Left Current (Greek: Νέο Αριστερό Ρεύμα (για την Κομμουνιστική Απελευθέρωση), ΝΑΡ; Neo Aristero Revma, NAR) (Communism, Anti-capitalism) (1990–2025)
New Reformist Radical Reconstruction (Greek: Νέα Μεταρρυθμιστική Ριζοσπαστική Ανασυγκρότηση, ΝΕΑ ΜΕ.Ρ.Α.) (National Conservative, Liberal Conservative) (2014–2015)
New Right (Greek: Νέα Δεξιά Nea Dexia) (National conservatism) (2016–2023)
Organisation of Communists Marxists-Leninists of Greece (Greek: Οργάνωση Κομμουνιστών Μαρξιστών-Λενινιστών Ελλάδας, ΟΚΜΛΕ) (Communist, Maoist) (1982–1993)
Panhellenic Macedonian Front (Greek: Πανελλήνιο Μακεδονικό Μέτωπο, ΠΑ.Μ.ΜΕ.) (2009)
Party of Democratic Socialism (Greek: Κόμμα του Δημοκρατικού Σοσιαλισμού, ΚΟΔΗΣΟ) – Komma tou Dimokratikou Sosialismou, KODISO (social democratic, democratic socialist) (1979–1989)
Party of Hellenism (Greek: Κόμμα Ελληνισμού) – Komma Ellinismou (Nationalist, Populist) (1984–2004)
Party of New Liberals (Greek: Kόμμα των Nεοφιλελευθέρων, K.N.) – Komma ton Neofileftheron, KN (Liberal, Liberal Conservative) (1977–1978)
Progress and Left Forces Alliance (Greek: Συμμαχία Προοδευτικών και Αριστερών Δυνάμεων) (Democratic socialism, Christian socialism, Eurocommunism, Radicalism) (1977–1981)
Renewing Communist Ecological Left (Greek: Ανανεωτική Κομμουνιστική Οικολογική Αριστερά) – AKOA (Eurocommunism, environmentalism) (1987–2013)
Reformers for Democracy and Development (Μεταρρυθμιστές της Αριστεράς για τη Δημοκρατία και την Ανάπτυξη) (2014–2019)
Republican Union (Greek: Δημοκρατική Ένωσις, Δ.Ε.) – Dimokratiki Enosis, DE
Revolutionary Communist Party of Greece (Greek: Επαναστατικό Κουμουνιστικό Κόμμα 'Ελλάδος) – Epanastatiko Koumounistiko Komma Ellados, EKKE (Communist) (1974–?)
Social Agreement (Κοινωνική Συμφωνία) (Democratic socialism, Social democracy) (2012-2019)
Society – Political Party of the Successors of Kapodistrias (Greek: Κοινωνία - Πολιτική παράταξη συνεχιστών του Καποδίστρια) – Koinonía - Politikí parátaxi synechistón tou Kapodístria, KOINONIA (kapodistrism) (2008-2020)
Union for the Homeland and the People (Greek: Ένωση για την Πατρίδα και τον Λαό) – Enosi gia tin Patrida kai ton Lao, EPAL (Christian Democracy) (2014–2015)
