Sdoukou to PASOK: You don’t care about citizen participation in the elections

A strong response to the press spokesperson for PASOK, Kostas Tsoukalas, regarding the usefulness of the supplementary vote system in the 2028 local elections was given by the spokesperson for New Democracy, Alexandra Sdoukou.

“Too much sorrow over poll results breeds madness,” said Alexandra Sdoukou in a mocking tone. “Mr. Tsoukalas is pretending he didn’t hear that I mentioned a run-off voting system,” she said. “A system that ensures the final decision on who will be mayor is made with the greatest possible citizen participation,” she emphasized.

“Mr. Tsoukalas and the PASOK don’t care about citizen participation; they only care about what backroom deals might secure them one more mayor,” said Alexandra Sdoukou. “As for the inconvenience, let’s not just ask the residents of big cities, but also the people in the provinces who want to vote in their hometowns,” concluded Alexandra Sdoukou.

This followed a statement by PASOK’s press secretary, Kostas Tsoukalas, who attempted to claim that the abolition of the second Sunday in the local elections in 2028 would, for New Democracy, relieve voters of the “hassle” and therefore “the abolition of the second Sunday is the solution.”

What is the supplementary vote in local elections

Based on the new Local Government Code, which was passed yesterday (7/26) by the Hellenic Parliament, a supplementary vote is to be introduced for local elections. In other words, voters will choose to vote for the municipal and regional party, along with the candidates on that ticket, and on the same ballot, they will have the option to select one additional party. In the second option, voters will not be able to mark their choice for individual candidates. The election of the mayor and the regional governor will take place provided that the leading coalition has secured 42% plus one vote.

The leading coalition that secures 42% plus one vote will hold 3/5 of the seats, while opposition coalitions will collectively hold 2/5 of the seats. Meanwhile, the electoral threshold is set at 3%, as is the case in national elections.