Greek president approves PM request for May 21 election

On Saturday, Greece’s president approved Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ proposal to dissolve parliament and schedule elections on May 21, preparing for a close contest.

In late March, Mitsotakis announced the election date during a cabinet meeting. He informed President Katerina Sakellaropoulou on Saturday that parliament will dissolve on April 23.

Sakellaropoulou addressed the conservative premier, “I hope we have a calm and fruitful pre-election period, for the good of the country,” launching a four-week political campaign.

Opinion polls indicate that neither Mitsotakis’ New Democracy party nor the main opposition, the socialist Syriza party, will win an outright legislative majority in the proportional voting election.

Mitsotakis wanted extensive election participation.

If elected parties cannot form a coalition, a second vote will be place in early July.