Tsipras hails ‘significant participation’ in center-left party vote
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras congratulated PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata for her victory in Sunday’s runoff elections for the leadership of a new center-left party that will be inaugurated in the next few months, saying high turnout bodes well for the political system overall.
“I called Fofi Gennimata a few moments ago to congratulate her on her election yesterday and wish her luck with her duties,” Tsipras wrote on his Twitter account.
“The significant participation of citizens in political procedures is a positive message for our political system,” he added, referring to higher-than-expected turnout both in the first round on November 12 and this Sunday.
“I hope that her election will contribute towards improving relations and dialogue between the country’s progressive forces, as is the case throughout Europe,” Tsipras added.
Over 155,000 voters participated in Sunday’s runoff, with 57 percent voting for the incumbent PASOK leader and 43 percent for the socialist party’s secretary and MEP Nikos Androulakis.
Election organizing committee chief Nikos Alivizatos reported a 26 percent abstention rate from the 210,500 voters who turned out on November 12 for the first round of the vote. He added that Gennimata led in all regions of Greece except Crete.
