New Democracy (Greece)

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New Democracy (Greek: Νέα Δημοκρατία

, Nea Dimokratia), abbreviated as ND, is a liberal-conservative political party in Greece. Founded in 1974 by Konstantinos Karamanlis, it is one of the two major political parties in Greece, along with the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). New Democracy is a member of the European People's Party (EPP), the Centrist Democrat International, and the International Democrat Union.

History[edit | edit source]

New Democracy was established on October 4, 1974, by Konstantinos Karamanlis, following the fall of the Greek military junta of 1967–1974. The party was created to restore democracy and to lead Greece into a new era of political stability. In the first elections after the junta, held in November 1974, New Democracy won a landslide victory, securing 54.37% of the vote and 220 out of 300 seats in the Hellenic Parliament.

Ideology[edit | edit source]

New Democracy is primarily identified with liberal conservatism, advocating for free-market policies, European integration, and a strong national defense. The party supports privatization, tax cuts, and deregulation to stimulate economic growth. It also emphasizes the importance of law and order, education reform, and healthcare reform.

Leadership[edit | edit source]

The party has been led by several prominent Greek politicians, including:

Konstantinos Karamanlis (1974–1980)
Georgios Rallis (1980–1981)
Evangelos Averoff (1981–1984)
Konstantinos Mitsotakis (1984–1993)
Miltiadis Evert (1993–1997)
Kostas Karamanlis (1997–2009)
Antonis Samaras (2009–2015)
Vangelis Meimarakis (2015–2016)
Kyriakos Mitsotakis (2016–present)

Electoral Performance[edit | edit source]

New Democracy has been a dominant force in Greek politics, winning several elections and forming governments. The party has alternated in power with PASOK and, more recently, with the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA). Notable electoral victories include the 2004 and 2007 elections under Kostas Karamanlis and the 2019 election under Kyriakos Mitsotakis.