Kyriakos Mitsotakis was sworn in as the prime minister of Greece on Monday for a second four-year term after his New Democracy party registered a resounding victory in a repeat election Sunday. New Democracy, a centre-right party, secured 158 seats and 40.5% votes in the 300-seat parliament, according to a Reuters report. With around 18% votes, Alexis Tsipras's Leftist party Syriza, which ruled Greece from 2015-2019, failed to return to power once again.
In the previous election conducted in May, Mitsotakis’ New Democracy had won nearly 41% of the vote, but was five seats short of a majority. He stepped down in favour of a caretaker premier, opting for a second election to come to power with a stronger mandate than forming a coalition government.
Mitsotakis met President Katerina Sakellaropoulou Monday to formally receive a mandate to form a government, after which he was sworn in.
Who Is Kyriakos Mitsotakis?
Mitsotakis, 55, is a former banker and comes from a powerful political family. Mitsotakis became the PM for the first time in 2019, when his party defeated Syriza in an election fought in the aftermath of a decade-long economic crisis. His campaign had focussed on jobs, strong growth and lower taxes.
New Democracy, or Nea Demokratia, which Mitsotakis is stated to have modernised after becoming its president in 2016, was the first party in Greece since 2009 to win an absolute majority.
According to his website, Mitsotakis earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies, “summa cum laude (with the highest distinction)”, from Harvard University, and did his Master’s in International Relations from Stanford University. Mitsotakis also has an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Before joining politics in 2003, he worked in the private sector for ten years, serving as a financial analyst with Chase Investment Bank, a consultant with McKinsey and Company, and also as the CEO of NBG Venture Capital at the National Bank of Greece, in which capacity he was recognised as a ‘Global Leader for Tomorrow’ by the World Economic Forum in 2003, according to Britannica.
Mitsotakis became a member of parliament in 2004, and was also an active member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. He served as the Minister of Administrative Reform and e-Government from June 2013 until January 2015.
A father of three, Mitsotakis is married to Mareva Grabowski.
His father, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, had been a PM too, serving on the post from 1990 to 1993. His grandfather and great-grandfather were also members of the Greek parliament, while Eleuthérios Venizélos, one of the most prominent Greek politicians from the early 20th century, was his great uncle.
Mitsotakis’s sister Dora Bakoyannis was the mayor of Athens when the city hosted the 2004 Olympic Games. Her son Costas Bakoyannis became the mayor of Athens in 2019.
ALSO READ | Greece Boat Disaster: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Orders Crackdown on Human Traffickers
Greece Current Crisis And Promises Made By Mitsotakis
With the Greek economy returning to stability and growth after years of debt crisis and three international bailouts, Mitsotakis is often credited with the turnaround. Soaring prices and economic hardship are still a worrying factor, though, and shortcomings in Greece's health and public transport systems stood exposed after the Covid-19 pandemic and the deadly train accident that occurred in February this year.
BBC reported that Mitsotakis’ victory is a rarity in Greek politics, saying few parties increase their vote share while vying for a second term in office.
Voters appear to have chosen to stick with New Democracy, which promised lower taxes and better public health system, though people are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
The Sunday election and verdict came a little more than a week after a migrant boat tragedy in which, according to BBC, about 500 people are believed to have died. The disaster, being called one of the worst in the Mediterranean in recent years, invited criticism for Greece over its actions and strict migration policy. It, however, did not affect the election as people seemed to vote for domestic economic stability.
Mitsotakis has promised to boost revenue from the country’s tourist industry, besides creating jobs and increasing wages to match the European Union average, international media reported.
"The people have given us a safe majority. Major reforms will go ahead quickly," he was quoted as saying in the media reports. "I never promise miracles. But I assure you that I will stay true to my national duty."
Mitsotakis has said he will rebrand Greece as a pro-business and fiscally responsible EU member, AP reported.