Sunday elections day: Greeks woke up early, got on their cars and drove to the nearest beaches rather to the ballot boxes. Media report of increased traffic through the country’s highways, nevertheless, the toll-free passage on the elections day. Apparently Greeks thought “too hot to stand queue” in order to cast a vote for the general elections on July 7 that will change the government in the country. Little did they know.
I went with a couple of friends to the ballot centers in our area in an Athens suburb and none of us had to stand queue.
Turnout seems to be low at least in the morning.
State-run ERT TV reported at 12 o’ noon that the turnout was a bit over 25%.
21,478 ballots centers opened at 7:00 a.m. and will close at 7:00 p.m.
Voting is obligatory and fines are threatened those not turning up. But who cares? How many fines would the Interior Ministry dare to impose?
If not for the beach and the sea, some Greeks may have thought that the elections menu this year has little choices even if there are 20 political parties participating.
Public opinion polls have displayed a clear victory for conservative New Democracy and 7 parties to manage pass the 3% threshold and enter the Parliament.
So, why bother?
Better spend a nice day at the beach and return home when the first “secure” results are due, short before 9 o’ clock in the evening.
Some may, of course, opt to go cast their votes after the day at the beach, so between 5 p.m. and before the ballot boxes close.
Exit Polls are to be announced at 7:00 p.m.
Some went voting with their cars, some on their horses and some ND politicians staged a show with their grandchildren.
Ex mayor of Athens and sister of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Dora Bakoyianni, had her granddaughter cast the vote.
Stay tuned with KeepTalkingGreece short before 7 o’ clock local time.
To quote Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) “If voting made any difference, they wouldn’t let us do it”.
I hope all the sensible Greeks had a good time at the beach 😉