Greeks have new government
Greece held a snap parliamentary election on May 6. Greece's two governing parties, which back tough austerity measures, have lost their parliamentary majority in Sunday's election, BBC reports.
The voter turnout was 98,4%. A total of 32 parties were competing for parliamentary seats.
The ruling New Democracy (ND) received 18, 9% (108 mandates), followed by anti-bailout party Syriza with 16,8 % (52 mandates). The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) is the third with 13,2% (41 mandates). Independent Greeks got 8,5% (33 mandates), Golden Dawn, a far-right party espousing what many see as a neo-Nazi ideology, received 7% (21) and Democratic Left 6,1% (19).
Greece has a one-chamber parliament (Vouli ton Ellinon) with 300 seats.
Voters elect 288 MPs through a proportional representation system from 56 single- and multi-seat constituencies, and 12 state deputies from one multi-seat nationwide constituency. Greek MPs serve a four-year term.
Under current electoral law, parties need to clear a 3 per cent national threshold. The political force which garners the most votes is awarded 50 extra seats. The rest of the seats are distributed proportionally among all parties which overcome the threshold. The 12 state deputy seats are allocated proportionally from closed lists in a nationwide district.
