Athens, 29 May 2023 (dpa/MIA) — Greece is set to hold new parliamentary elections on June 25 following the failure to form a government after the vote on May 21.

On Monday, the constitutional steps for the ballot were formally completed, the parliamentary presidency announced.

The conservative New Democracy party of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had emerged as the clear winner from the first round with 40.8%.

The largest opposition party, the left-wing Syriza party of former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, saw its support dive by 10 percentage points to around 20%.

The social democrats of PASOK came in third with around 11.5%, while the Communist Party gained 7.2% and the right-wing populist Elliniki Lysi (Greek Solution) 4.5%, all clearing the hurdle for entry into parliament.

A grand coalition between ND and Syriza was considered out of the question for political reasons. The two parties are seen as too far apart thematically and ideologically.

The other parties did not find common ground either. Moreover, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced his intention to govern alone.