Greek PM calls for early election after EU polls defeat

His Syriza was estimated to have received only 23.9 per cent of votes, while the main opposition party won 33.2 per cent

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said he would call for early national polls next month after a drubbing at European and local elections AFP

Alexis Tsipras, the Greek Prime Minister, has called for an early national election after the defeat of his party in the European parliamentary elections.

His Syriza party was estimated to have received only 23.94 per cent of votes, while the main opposition New Democracy won 33.28 per cent.

“The result does not rise to our expectations. I will not ignore it or quit,” Mr Tsipras said from Syriza’s headquarters.

The government’s term expires in October. Before the Greek leader’s announcement, government officials insisted the election would be held at the end of the term.

Mr Tsipras said he would visit the Greek President, Prokopios Pavlopoulos, to request an early dissolution of Parliament after the second round of local and regional elections on June 2.

This would move the election date to June 30 at the earliest.