Karamanlis decided to call for early elections, after some of the most prominent members of the National Radical Union defected from the party, including George Rallis and Panagis Papaligouras [el]. Although Karamanlis could have a parliamentary majority, he preferred to go for elections, in order to achieve a renewed public support.
The pretext of the defection was a new electoral law that Karamanlis passed. Rallis was opposed to the law, thinking that it is going to be extremely favorable for EDA, a party believed to be linked with the then-banned Communist Party of Greece.
The outcome of the results proved that Rallis' "fears" were justified. EDA became the second biggest party, outvoting a divided centre.
Just after the elections Karamanlis formed a new government, taking back in his party the defectors.
The unexpected rise of EDA, barely nine years after the end of the Greek Civil War, sent alarms through the right-wing establishment, and measures were taken to combat the emergent "communist threat", including the division of the large urban electoral districts of Athens, Piraeus and Thessaloniki so that the left-voting areas would be separated (forming the Athens B, Piraeus B, etc. constituencies), as well as the establishment of a dedicated domestic security agency, the General Directorate of National Security.
1958, greek, legislative, election, parliamentary, elections, were, held, greece, 1958, result, second, consecutive, victory, konstantinos, karamanlis, national, radical, union, which, seats, parliament, 1956, 1958, 1961, seats, hellenic, parliament151, seats,. Parliamentary elections were held in Greece on 11 May 1958 1 The result was a second consecutive victory for Konstantinos Karamanlis and his National Radical Union which won 171 of the 300 seats in Parliament 1958 Greek legislative election 1956 11 May 1958 1961 All 300 seats in the Hellenic Parliament151 seats needed for a majority First party Second party Third party Leader Konstantinos Karamanlis Ioannis Passalidis Georgios Papandreou Party ERE EDA Liberal Seats won 171 79 36 Popular vote 1 583 885 939 902 795 445 Percentage 41 16 24 43 20 67 Prime Minister before election Konstantinos Karamanlis ERE Prime Minister after election Konstantinos Karamanlis ERE Contents 1 Background 2 Results 3 Aftermath 4 ReferencesBackground editKaramanlis decided to call for early elections after some of the most prominent members of the National Radical Union defected from the party including George Rallis and Panagis Papaligouras el Although Karamanlis could have a parliamentary majority he preferred to go for elections in order to achieve a renewed public support The pretext of the defection was a new electoral law that Karamanlis passed Rallis was opposed to the law thinking that it is going to be extremely favorable for EDA a party believed to be linked with the then banned Communist Party of Greece The outcome of the results proved that Rallis fears were justified EDA became the second biggest party outvoting a divided centre Just after the elections Karamanlis formed a new government taking back in his party the defectors Results edit nbsp PartyVotes Seats National Radical Union1 583 88541 16171 6United Democratic Left939 90224 4379 Liberal Party795 44520 6736 Progressive Agricultural Democratic Union408 78710 6210NewUnion of Populars113 3582 954NewList of Independents4 0090 100 2Independents2 3390 060 1Total3 847 725100 003000Valid votes3 847 72599 58Invalid blank votes16 1970 42Total votes3 863 922100 00Registered voters turnout5 119 14875 48Source Nohlen amp StoverAftermath editThe unexpected rise of EDA barely nine years after the end of the Greek Civil War sent alarms through the right wing establishment and measures were taken to combat the emergent communist threat including the division of the large urban electoral districts of Athens Piraeus and Thessaloniki so that the left voting areas would be separated forming the Athens B Piraeus B etc constituencies as well as the establishment of a dedicated domestic security agency the General Directorate of National Security References edit Dieter Nohlen amp Philip Stover 2010 Elections in Europe A data handbook p830 ISBN 978 3 8329 5609 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1958 Greek legislative election amp oldid 1203614971, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
