Parties target millions of abstainers ahead of Greek election
More than two million voters have effectively disappeared from Greece’s ballot boxes over the past two decades, making turnout a key issue for political parties ahead of the next national election.
Participation falls sharply
Voter participation stood at about 76% in 2004, when 7.57 million citizens voted. By the June 2023 national election, turnout had fallen to around 53%, according to the figures cited by Kathimerini.
The decline has been linked to demographic changes as well as growing political disengagement. Pollsters say the size of the electorate that ultimately turns out could significantly affect the distribution of votes among parties.
Young voters remain a focus
New political movements have raised expectations of higher participation, particularly among younger voters. However, recent polling has not yet shown a clear increase in turnout among groups that have frequently stayed away from elections.
Participation among voters aged 17 to 24 has fallen sharply, from 585,000 in May 2023 to 433,000 in June 2023 and 235,000 in the 2024 European Parliament elections.
Discontent remains high
Rising prices remain a major concern among voters. A Pulse survey cited by Kathimerini found that 31% of respondents believed no party had proposals capable of effectively addressing the issue.
The low-turnout trend was also evident in the 2024 European Parliament election, when participation fell to 41.24%, compared with 58.69% in 2019.
Parties seek to bring voters back
PASOK and the newly formed Greek Left Alliance are among the parties seeking to attract dissatisfied and younger voters, while other parties are also focusing on citizens who have remained outside the electoral process.
With Greece’s next national election due in 2027, turnout is emerging as a central factor in party strategies and the wider electoral landscape.
Source:Kathimerini
