EGP News

GREEK GREENS NARROWLY FAIL TO ENTER PARLIAMENT BUT WAGED EXCELLENT ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Monday October 05 2009 05:37:00 PM

The Spokespersons of the European Green Party have expressed their regret that the EGP Member Party in Greece, Ecologoi-Prasinoi (Green Ecologists) fell short of reaching the 3% threshold which is required to enter parliament in Sunday’s parliamentary elections but congratulated them on an extremely strong campaign.

EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts, who is also a MEP for the Belgian French-Speaking Green Party Ecolo, said: “We share the disappointment of the Greek Greens that their result of 2.5% means that they were unable to reach the 3% threshold necessary to become a parliamentary party. It is clear that in an extremely polarised political system, many Greek voters who were considering voting for the Greek Greens decided in the end to vote for PASOK, so that they could be sure of a change in government. However, the Greek Greens are to be congratulated on an extremely well-focussed campaign which allowed them to strengthen their media presence.”

EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek, who is also an Austrian Green MEP, continued: “It is a real pity that no Green MPs were elected in this election. However, the Greek Greens’ increased visibility since the election of the Greek Greens’ first MEP Michail Tremopoulos in the European Elections in June represents a great opportunity for the Greek Greens to further develop their potential so that they can win parliamentary seats in future elections. We European Greens will do everything we can to support the Greens at this crucial stage in their development as a political force.”