Conservative Mitsotakis sworn in as Greece’s prime minister while far-right sees election surge

By NICHOLAS PAPHITIS
Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s center-right leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been sworn in as prime minister for a second consecutive term. He trounced the left-wing opposition by a record margin in a Sunday election that also ushered new far-right parties into Parliament. With 99.7% of the vote counted on Monday, Mitsotakis’ New Democracy party had 40.55% — more than twice the opposition Syriza party’s 17.84%. It was the largest margin of victory in a Greek election in a half-century. Mitsotakis says he plans to use the next four years “to implement major, deeply-needed reforms.” On the “surprise” election showings by marginal parties, the prime minister said, “I think our democracy is mature enough to handle whatever temporary turbulence (ensues).”