Greece elections may trigger political instability

Significance

Greece is bracing for a tight contest, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s New Democracy (ND) party’s lead over its main rival, the leftist Syriza, narrowing. The conservative ND has lost popularity and faces a challenge from both the left and the right.

Impacts

• The talk of a repeat election may depress voter turnout on May 21.
• The campaign is dominated by the economy and the fallout from the February 28 train crash in Tempe, central Greece.
• The presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey on May 14 will loom large ahead of the Greek polls taking place a week later.