Greece’s conservative prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has emerged victorious in the national elections, describing his party’s resounding triumph as a ‘political earthquake.’

The centre-right New Democracy party secured nearly 41% of the vote, falling just five seats short of a majority. Mitsotakis acknowledged the mandate given to his party by the Greek people for a four-year government.

In a congratulatory message, his centre-left rival Alexis Tsipras, whose Syriza party obtained a modest result of 20%, acknowledged the outcome.

Mitsotakis emphasized the desire for a Greece governed by a majority New Democracy government without the need for coalition partners.

The unexpected scale of New Democracy’s victory was revealed by exit polls, and as the results unfolded, it became evident that pre-election polls had underestimated the 20-point margin between the two main parties.

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With the majority of the results counted, New Democracy was set to win 146 seats, just five seats shy of the required majority.

Mitsotakis’s inclination towards holding a second election in late June, when the winning party receives bonus seats, became apparent.

Despite President Katerina Sakellaropoulou offering the opportunity to form a coalition, it is clear that Mitsotakis will decline the offer.

The election outcome dealt a significant blow to Tsipras, whose party campaigned against austerity measures but ultimately complied with the creditors’ demands.

Greece has been governed by the centre-right for the past four years, boasting a growth rate close to 6% in the previous year.

Mitsotakis’s appeal to the nation centered on his ability to navigate the Greek economy forward and solidify recent growth, which resonated positively with Greek voters.