List of political parties in Greece

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Political parties of Greece
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From the restoration of democracy in 1974 to the

caretaker prime minister until the June 2023 Greek legislative election
was held.

History

1915–1967

This period was mainly ruled between the right-wing and the centre.

The major parties that emerged were the People’s Party and the Liberal Party. In 1926, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), which would later define the left for years, entered the parliament.

From 1950 to 1963, the predominant parties that won all elections in this period were the People’s Party (later Hellenic Rally) and the National Radical Union (ERE) (both from the right).

1974–2009

After the seven-year dictatorship ended, the former leader of ERE, Konstantinos Karamanlis, was called back from exile to form a new government and then created the New Democracy (ND) party. Monarchy was abolished in 1974, making the political parties the sole determinants of politics in Greece.

Further, 1974 saw the establishment of a new party, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) under Andreas Papandreou, representing a socialist ideology. For the decades to come, PASOK and New Democracy were the two parties that dominated Greek politics, creating a formidable two-party system, with the communist party KKE coming third.

The party system during this period was characterised by strong bureaucratic clientelism.

2009–present

The global economic crisis that heavily affected Greece had an impact in reshaping the party system that had been stagnant for decades. Confidence in the traditional parties declined; this led to the end of the continuous two-party system and single-party governments. There was new movement towards the creation of coalitions and an increase in the number of parties entering parliament.

The party that rose through the crisis was the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA). It finished second on the crucial May 2012 legislative elections and later won the 2015 elections. It was the first party from the left wing in Greece's history to win an election.

A new split in the party system ideology (created during the economic crisis) which was evident in the 2012 elections was a pro- or anti-European stance. This resulted in an unprecedented coalition between the major traditional parties New Democracy and PASOK and the minor party DIMAR. Similarly, the coalition that was created after the 2015 elections between SYRIZA, a left-wing party, and ANEL, a populist right party, was based on their common views regarding Europe.

This period of turmoil also saw the rise of the controversial far-right party Golden Dawn. It became a third party in parliament after the 2015 elections.

In 2018, the past major party PASOK merged with other centrist parties and created the Movement of Change (KINAL) formation.

The elections in 2019 saw a return to a single party government with the continuously dominant New Democracy claiming the majority in parliament.

Parties represented in the current Parliament and European Parliament

Party Acronym Leader MPs MEPs Ideology Political
position
International
affiliation
European
affiliation
New Democracy,
Νέα Δημοκρατία,
Néa Dimokratía
ND,
ΝΔ
Kyriakos Mitsotakis,
president
158 / 300
7 / 21
Liberal conservatism[1]
Christian democracy[2]
Centre-right[3] to right-wing[4]
IDU
CDI
EPP
Coalition of the Radical Left,
Συνασπισμός Ριζοσπαστικής Αριστεράς,
Sinaspismós Rizospastikís Aristerás
SYRIZA,
ΣΥΡΙΖΑ
Stefanos Kasselakis,
president
36 / 300
2 / 21
Democratic socialism[5]
Social democracy[6]
Centre-left to left-wing None PEL
PASOK-KINAL,
Πανελλήνιο Σοσιαλιστικό Κίνημα- Κίνημα Αλλαγής,
Panellinio Sosialistiko Kinima - Kínima Allagís
PASOK-KINAL,
ΠΑΣΟΚ – ΚΙΝΑΛ
Nikos Androulakis,
president
32 / 300
1 / 21
Social democracy Centre-left
PA
PES
Communist Party of Greece,
Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας,
Kommounistikó Kómma Elládas
KKE Dimitris Koutsoumpas,
general secretary
21 / 300
2 / 21
Communism
Marxism–Leninism
Far-left IMCWP INITIATIVE
Greek Solution,
Ελληνική Λύση,
Ellinikí Lýsi
EL,
ΕΛ
Kyriakos Velopoulos,
president
12 / 300
1 / 21
Ultranationalism
National conservatism
Right-wing
to far-right
None ECR
Spartans,
Σπαρτιάτες,
Spartiátes
S,
Σ
Vasilis Stigkas,
president
10 / 300
0 / 21
Neo-fascism
Ultranationalism
Far-right None None
New Left,
Νέα Αριστερά,
Néa Aristerá
NA,
ΝΑ
Alexis Haritsis,
parliamentary leader
11 / 300
1 / 21
Democratic socialism Centre-left to left-wing None None
Democratic Patriotic Movement – Victory,
Δημοκρατικό Πατριωτικό Κίνημα – Νίκη,
Dimokratikó Patriotikó Kínima – Níki
NIKI,
NIKH
Dimitris Natsios,
chairman
10 / 300
0 / 21
Conservatism
Christian nationalism
Far-right None None
Course of Freedom,
Πλεύση Ελευθερίας,
Plefsi Eleftherias
PE,
ΠE
Zoe Konstantopoulou,
president
6 / 300
0 / 21
Left-wing nationalism
Sovereigntism
Catch-all
None None

[7][8]

Minor parties

Name Acronym Position Ideology Leader National affiliation European affiliation MPs MEPs
Agricultural Livestock Party of Greece
Αγροτικό Κτηνοτροφικό Κόμμα Ελλάδος
AKKEL
Α.Κ.Κ.ΕΛ.
Centre Agrarianism
Agrarian reform
Vakis Tsiompanidis Independent Greeks (2015)
United Popular Front-Agricultural Livestock Party of Greece (2019)
European Alliance for Freedom and Democracy 0 0
Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow

Αντικαπιταλιστική Αριστερή Συνεργασία για την Ανατροπή
ANTARSYA
ΑΝΤΑΡΣΥΑ
Left-wing to far-left Socialism
Anti-capitalism
21 member committee None None 0 0
Assembly of Greeks
Ελλήνων Συνέλευσις
ESY
Ε.ΣΥ.
Far-right Ultranationalism
Greek nationalism
Artemis Sorras None None 0 0
Christian Democracy
Χριστιανική Δημοκρατία
XD
ΧΔ
Left-wing
Christian socialism
Democratic socialism
Giannis Zervos Political Initiative (since 2023) None 0 0
Christian Democratic Party of the Overthrow
Χριστιανοδημοκρατικό Κόμμα Ανατροπής
XPIKA
ΧΡΙΚΑ
Centre-right
Christian democracy
Conservatism
Nikos Nikolopoulos Union for the Homeland and the People (2014)
Independent Greeks (2015)
Union of Centrists (2019)
Greek Solution 0 0
Communist Organization of Greece
Κομμουνιστική Οργάνωση Ελλάδας
KOE
Κ.Ο.Ε.
Left-wing Communism
Maoism
None None 0 0
Communist Party of Greece (Marxist–Leninist)
Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας (Μαρξιστικό – Λενινιστικό)
KKE(m–l)
Κ.Κ.Ε.(μ-λ)
Far-left
Anti-revisionism
Grigoris Konstantopoulos Marxist–Leninist Communist Parties of Greece None 0 0
Cynical Party of Greece-Diogenis
Κυνικό Κόμμα Ελλάδος-Διογένης
KKE-D
ΚΚΕ-Δ
Big tent Political satire Unknown None None 0 0
Democratic National Reform Union
Ένωση Δημοκρατικής Εθνικής Μεταρρύθμισης
EDEM
Ε.Δ.Ε.Μ.
Centre Liberalism Apostolos Pontas PASOK-KINAL (since 2018) None 0 0
Democratic Revival
Δημοκρατική Αναγέννηση
DIMAN
ΔΗΜ.ΑΝ.
Centre Greek nationalism
Christian democracy
Stelios Papathemelis Political Initiative (since 2023) None 0 0
Democratic Social Movement
Δημοκρατικό Κοινωνικό Κίνημα
DΙΚΚΙ
ΔH.K.KI.
Left-wing Social democracy
Socialism
Giorgos Boutris
Alliance of the Overthrow None 0 0
Democrats
Δημοκρατικοί
Dem
Δημ
Centre Social liberalism
Economic liberalism
Theodoros Polyzoidis [el] New Democracy None 0 0
Ecologist Greens
Οικολόγοι Πράσινοι
OP
Ο.Π.
Left-wing Green politics Konstantinos Ziavras, Alexandra Datseri
SYRIZA (2015–2020)
Ecologist GreensGreen Unity
(since 2023)
G-EFA
0 0
Ecologists of Greece
Οικολόγοι Ελλάδας
Right-wing
Green conservatism
Konstantinos Papanikolas
None None 0 0
European Realistic Disobedience Front 25
Μέτωπο Ευρωπαϊκής Ρεαλιστικής Ανυπακοής 25
MeRA25
ΜέΡΑ25
Left-wing Democratic socialism
Market socialism[9]
Gianis Varoufakis None
DiEM25
0 0
Fighting Socialist Party of Greece
Αγωνιστικό Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας
ASKE
Α.Σ.Κ.Ε.
Left-wing Democratic socialism
Left-wing nationalism
None None 0 0
Free Citizens
Ελεύθεροι Πολίτες
Centre-left Social democracy Michalis Nikitakis None None 0 0
Free People Movement
Κίνημα Ελεύθερων Ανθρώπων
KELAN
Κ.ΕΛ.ΑΝ.
Centre-right to far-right
National conservatism
Right-wing populism
Paris Kourtzidis Greek Overthrow None 0 0
Greece, Another Path
Ελλάδα, ο άλλος δρόμος
ANOTHER PATH
ΑΛΛΟΣ ΔΡΟΜΟΣ
right-wing
National conservatism
Notis Marias None ECR 0 0
Greek Ecologists
Έλληνες Οικολόγοι
EO
E.O.
Social progressivism
Dimosthenis Vergis
None None 0 0
Greek Unity
Ελληνική Ενότητα
EL.EN
ΕΛ.ΕΝ.
far-right
Greek nationalism Vasilis Protopapas None None 0 0
Greens-Solidarity

Πράσινοι-Αλληλεγγύη
Greens
Πράσινοι
Centre-left
Green politics Nikos Chrysogelos Prasino+Mov (since 2022) None 0 0
I Don't Pay Movement
Κίνημα Δεν Πληρώνω
Far-left Socialism
Anti-capitalism
Vasilis Papadopoulos
Course of Freedom None 0 0
Independent Greeks
Ανεξάρτητοι Έλληνες
ANEL
ΑΝ.ΕΛ.
Centre-right
Conservatism Panos Kammenos None None 0 0
Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Greece

Μαρξιστικό-Λενινιστικό Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα Ελλάδας
M-L KKE
Μ-Λ Κ.Κ.Ε.
Far-left
Anti-revisionism
Antonis Papadopoulos Marxist–Leninist Communist Parties of Greece None 0 0
Movement for the Reorganization of the Communist Party of Greece 1918–1955
Κίνηση για την Ανασύνταξη του ΚΚΕ 1918–55
Anasintaxi
Ανασυνταξη
Far-left Marxism–Leninism
Stalinism
Tasos Mpallos None None 0 0
Movement of Democratic Socialists
Κίνημα Δημοκρατών Σοσιαλιστών
KIDISO
ΚΙ.ΔΗ.ΣΟ.
Centre-left
Social democracy George Papandreou PASOK-KINAL None 1 0
National Front
Εθνικό Mέτωπο
EM
Ε.Μ.
Far-right
Ultranationalism
Greek nationalism
Emmanouil Konstas None None 0 0
National Hope
Εθνική Ελπίδα
EE
E.E.
far-right
National conservatism
Monarchism
Giorgos Papadopoulos None None 0 0
National Party - Greeks

Εθνικό Kόμμα - Έλληνες
GREEKS
ΕΛΛΗΝΕΣ
Far-right National conservatism Anti-immigration Dimitris Chatziliadis None None 0 0
National Unity Association
Σύνδεσμος Εθνικής Ενότητας
SEE
Σ.Ε.Ε.
Right-wing
Patriotism
National conservatism
Nikos Alikakos None None 0 0
New Right
Νέα Δεξιά
ΝEDE
ΝΕ.ΔΕ.
Far-right National conservatism Greek nationalism Failos Kranidiotis none ID 0 0
Organization for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party of Greece
Οργάνωση για την Ανασυγκρότηση του Κομουνιστικού Κόμματος Ελλάδας
OAKKE
Ο.Α.Κ.Κ.Ε.
Far-left Communism Elias Zafiropoulos None None 0 0
Organisation of Internationalist Communists of Greece
Οργάνωση Κομμουνιστών Διεθνιστών Ελλάδας
OKDE
Ο.Κ.Δ.Ε.
Far-left Communism
Trotskyism
None None 0 0
Panathinaikos Movement
Παναθηναικό Κίνημα
PAN.KI.
ΠΑN.KI.
Centre Ioannis Alevizos None None 0 0
Panhellenic Citizen Chariot
Πανελλήνιο Άρμα Πολιτών
PARP
Π.ΑΡ.Π.
Centre-left Giannis Dimaras [el] Independent Greeks (2012–2014)
Union of Centrists (2019)
None 0 0
Party of Friendship, Equality and Peace
Κόμμα Ισότητας, Ειρήνης και Φιλίας
Dostluk-Eşitlik-Barış Partisi
KIEF
Κ.Ι.Ε.Φ
DEBP
Centre Turkish minority interests
Centrism
Çiğdem Asafoğlu
None None 0 0
Party of Greek Hunters
Κόμμα Ελλήνων Κυνηγών
KEK
Κ.Ε.Κ.
Centre-right
Conservatism Giorgos Tsagkanelias None None 0 0
Patriots
Πατριώτες
PD-PE
Π.Δ. - Π.Ε.
Far-right National conservatism Anti-immigration Prodromos Emfietzoglou None None 0 0
Patriotic Force for Change
Πατριωτική Δύναμη Αλλαγής
PATRIDA
ΠΑΤΡΙ.Δ.Α.
Far-right National conservatism Anti-immigration Konstantinos Bogdanos None None 0 0
Pirate Party of Greece
Κόμμα Πειρατών Ελλάδας
KPE
Κ.Π.Ε.
Freedom of information
Direct democracy
Has no leader, but a management board. Ecologist GreensPirate Party of Greece (2014)

Prasino+Mov (since 2022)

G-EFA
0 0
Popular Greek Patriotic Union
Λαϊκή Ελληνική Πατριωτική Ένωση
L.E.P.EN.
ΛΕ.Π.ΕΝ.
Far-right Greek nationalism
Anti-immigration
Christos Rigas
Greeks for the Fatherland
APF 0 0
Popular Orthodox Rally
Λαϊκός Ορθόδοξος Συναγερμός
LA.O.S
ΛΑ.Ο.Σ
Far-right Greek nationalism
Conservatism
Filippos Kampouris None MELD 0 0
Popular Unions of Bipartisan Social Groups
Λαϊκές Ενώσεις Υπερκομματικών Κοινωνικών Ομάδων
L.E.F.K.O.
Λ.Ε.Υ.Κ.Ο.
Konstantinos Dalios Independent Greeks (2015) None 0 0
Popular Unity-Insubordinate Left
Λαϊκή Ενότητα-Ανυπότακτη Αριστερά
LAE-AA
ΛΑ.Ε.-A.A.
far-left
Democratic socialism[10]
Left-wing populism
Dimitris Stratoulis, Marianna Tsixli MeRA25-Alliance for the Rupture None 0 0
Rainbow
Ουράνιο Τόξο
Виножито
Centre Slavic Macedonian minority rights
Regionalism
Collective leadership None European Free Alliance 0 0
Recreate Greece
Δημιουργία Ξανά
DIXAN
ΔH.ΞAN.
Right-wing
Neoliberalism[11][12][13]
Anti-immigration
Vaggelis Aktsalis None ALDE 0 0
Social Agreement
Κοινωνική Συμφωνία
KOISY
ΚΟΙ.ΣΥ.
Centre-left Social democracy
Democratic socialism
Louka Katseli
SYRIZA
None 0 0
Society First
Η Κοινωνία Πρώτα
H.K.P
Η.Κ.Π
Left wing
Democratic socialism
Socialism
Stefanos Katsaras
SYRIZA
None 0 0
Society of Values
Κοινωνία Αξιών
Centre Liberalism Stelios Fenekos [el] The River (2019) Society of ValuesLiberal Alliance None 0 0
Smoking Groups for Art and Visual Art
Καπνιστικές Ομάδες για την Τέχνη και την Εικαστική Συγκρότηση
K.O.T.E.S.
Κ.Ο.Τ.Ε.Σ
Legalization of smoking Nikos Louvros
KKE
None 0 0
Start – Socialist Internationalist Organisation
Ξεκίνημα – Σοσιαλιστική Διεθνιστική Οργάνωση
Χ
Ξ
Far-left Trotskyism
Democratic socialism
None None None 0 0
Union of Centrists
Ένωση Κεντρώων
E.K.
Ε.Κ.
Centre Venizelism
National liberalism
Vasilis Leventis None European Democratic Party 0 0
United Popular Front
Ενιαίο Παλλαϊκό Μέτωπο
EPAM
Ε.ΠΑ.Μ.
None Patriotism
Greek nationalism
Dimitris Kazakis Alliance of the Overthrow None 0 0
Voice of Logic
Φωνή Λογικής
FL
Φ.Λ.
Far-right National conservatism Anti-immigration Afroditi Latinopoulou None None 0 0
Volt Greece
Βολτ Ελλάδας
VOLT
ΒΟΛΤ
Centre to centre-left Social liberalism
Progressivism
Nikolas Fournarakis, Theodora Fabricezi Prasino+Mov (2022–2023) Volt Europa 0 0
Workers Revolutionary Party
Εργατικό Επαναστατικό Κόμμα
EEK
Ε.Ε.Κ.
Far-left Communism
Trotskyism
Savas Matsas None None 0 0

Defunct parties

Parties during the reign of King Otto (1833–1862)

Parties during the reign of King George I (1863–1913)

Parties during the reign of King Constantine I - Alexander – George II (1913–1924)

Parties during the Second Hellenic Republic (1924–1935)

Parties during the restoration of King George II (1936–1946)

Parties during the reigns of Kings Paul and Constantine II (1946–1973)

Parties during the Third Hellenic Republic (1974–present)

See also

Further reading

  • Lyrintzis, Christos (March 2005). "The Changing Party System: Stable Democracy, Contested 'Modernisation'".
    S2CID 154731903
    .

References

  1. .
  2. .
  3. .
  4. ^ Souli, Sarah (15 January 2020). "For Migrants and Refugees, Greece Has Become Hostile Territory". www.worldpoliticsreview.com. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  5. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "Greece". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  6. ^ John Milios (December 2016). "SYRIZA: From 'Subversion' to Centre-Left Pragmatism" (PDF). National Technical University of Athens.
  7. ^ "Per Parliamentary Group". www.hellenicparliament.gr. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Advanced search | Search | MEPs | European Parliament | Greece". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  9. ^ Yanis Varoufakis: From an Economics without Capitalism to Markets without Capitalism | DiEM25, retrieved 16 October 2021
  10. ^ "Introducing Popular Unity". Jacobin Magazine. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  11. ^ "2012 Greek (2nd) Parliamentary Post-Election Report". 19 June 2012.
  12. ^ "Θάνος Τζήμερος: Ένας γνήσιος εκφραστής του νεοφιλελευθερισμού".
  13. ^ "Η δεξιά του νεοφιλελευθερισμού".