Six months before the end of his governmental term, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis requested the dissolution of the Greek parliament in order to hold early elections. Karamanlis planned to win a clear mandate for necessary reforms.

The preliminary results of the polls showed a narrow majority for Karamanlis' New Democracy party. The result was delivered by a complex new electoral procedure and declared a "clear mandate" for a second term.

Read more about the elections in the International Herald Tribune, on Al Jazeera and BBC News online as well as a full cover of the aftermath of the poll in the Mail & Guardian and the IHT.

Join the debate in our forums: Why bother to vote?