Exit poll on Mega: Seven to nine parties expected to enter Parliament; ND able to form majority gov’t

The first exit poll in the June 25 election in Greece, aired on the Athens-based Mega Channel, shows incumbent New Democracy (ND) fielding a lead over rival SYRIZA ranging from between 21 to 28 percentage points. The first exit poll was based on a sample of respondents taken after 80 percent of voters had cast their ballot.

Moreover, between seven to nine parties are forecast to enter the 300-deputy Greek Parliament. A party must gain above 3 percent of the general vote (of valid ballots) to enter Parliament.

The figures from the first exit poll specifically show center-right ND with 40 to 44 percent; leftist SYRIZA is given 16.1 to 19.1 percent; socialist PASOK, 10 to 13 percent; the Communist Party (ΚΚΕ) from 7.2 to 9.2 percent.

A newly established party, the ultra-nationalist Spartiates (Spartans), which is suspected of being a “front” for jailed Golden Dawn cadre Ilias Kasidiaris, is more-or-less assured of Parliament representation, forecast to gain 4 to 6 percent of the vote.

Other smaller parties whose entry into Parliament remains uncertain, moments after election precincts closed at 7 p.m. local time, include the Elliniki Lysi (Hellenic Solution), which is calculated at between 2.3 to 4.3 percent.

Another first-timer, the conservative and faith-based Niki party, is given 2.3 to 4.3 percent, whereas Yanis Varoufakis radical left Mera25 party is shown with equal chances of missing or gaining entry into Parliament, as it is figured at between 2 to 4 percent.

The same is true for the left-of-center party, Plevsi, established by former Parliament president and SYRIZA deputy Zoe Konstantinpoulou.