ATHENS — Conservative leader Constantine Mitsotakis claimed victory early today in national elections, saying he will form a majority government to break a sapping political stalemate that has left Greece perilously adrift.
Mitsotakis' right-of-center New Democracy Party easily outdistanced Socialist and Communist opponents in voting Sunday. However, it lacked an assured majority in the 300-seat Parliament when Mitsotakis addressed a 4 a.m. press conference.
Needing 151 seats for a majority in the 300-seat Parliament, New Democracy had 150 in nearly complete returns as dawn approached today.
While his jubilant supporters paraded in honking procession through downtown Athens streets, Mitsotakis told journalists that he expects to win one or two additional seats in closely contested districts where final returns were still being counted.
"I believe we will have a parliamentary majority, and this is where I start," Mitsotakis said. "The Greek people have given victory to New Democracy. Once again, we celebrate our victory."
Sunday's cliffhanger vote marked the third attempt in 10 months to end the political deadlock in a nation that is starkly and stubbornly divided between left and right.
With 91% of about 8 million votes counted, New Democracy had 47.4% of the vote and 150 assured seats.
An Interior Ministry spokesman said New Democracy might pick up one or two more seats as final votes were tabulated for an election in which seats were assigned proportionately.
The Panhellenic Socialist Movement, or Pasok, headed by former Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, 71, was running second with 38.5% of the vote and about 124 seats.
The Communist-led Coalition of Left and Progress led by 74-year-old Harilaos Florakis finished third, with 10% and about 19 seats.
Minor parties shared the remaining seats. Four of them were pledged to the Communists and Socialists as part of a pre-election agreement between the two leftist parties. The three other victors--an environmentalist, a Muslim from a border area near Turkey and a disaffected former New Democracy deputy from Athens--said in their campaigns that they would vote with the Socialists and Communists.
In stalemated elections last November, New Democracy won 148 seats with 46% of the vote. Pasok trailed with 41% and 128 seats. The Communists had 11% and 21 seats. Minor parties won the remaining three seats.
