Premier Wins Second Term in Greek Vote

Greece’s Socialist Prime Minister Costas Simitis won his first major political gamble Sunday, sweeping to victory over opposition conservatives in early national elections.

Simitis’ win gives him control over the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, a free hand to name a Cabinet and a four-year mandate to implement his reform policies.

Champagne flowed at party headquarters in Athens until well after midnight, and a cheering crowd gave the smiling Simitis a hero’s welcome as he entered the building to prepare his victory speech.

It was a personal triumph for Simitis, 60, who confidently called the vote only to see his once-strong lead shrink and opinion polls predict a neck-and-neck finish.

But with 33.5% of the vote counted, the Socialists had a solid 3-point lead in their first election without legendary party founder and three-time Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou at the helm.

Simitis took over as premier from the ailing Papandreou in January and consolidated his power with his rise to Socialist party president in June after Papandreou died.

On Sunday, opposition leader Miltiades Evert conceded defeat after the Interior Ministry released its preliminary figures, and Simitis quickly claimed a “great victory.”

A German- and British-trained economist and lawyer, Simitis initially turned his back on Papandreou’s passionate populism and generous campaign promises and told Greeks bluntly that they could expect no more handouts from the European Union.

He eventually switched tactics and began recalling the glory of the Papandreou days, when Greece’s vast welfare state was set up, and promising to take care of the less well-off.