The leader of the conservative New Democracy party, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has been sworn in as the new prime minister of Greece.

The ceremony came a day after his resounding victory over the left-wing Alexis Tsipras, who was voted out after the country endured three successive international bailouts amid a nearly decade-long financial crisis.

Mr Tsipras conceded defeat with his Syriza party on 31.5% of the vote, compared to 39.8% for the New Democracy party led by his 51-year-old opponent.

Image: Leader of New Democracy conservative party and winner of Greek general election Kyriakos Mitsotakis leaves the presidental palace flanked by his children after being sworn-in

Image: Supporters of the New Democracy party celebrate their win

The swearing-in ceremony was conducted at the presidential mansion in Athens, with Mr Mitsotakis accompanied by his wife and three children.

He told voters: "I assume the governance of the country with full awareness of the national responsibility. I know of the difficulties that lie ahead for me and for my associates. But I draw strength from the strength of the people."


It was the first time Greeks had been to the polls for a parliamentary election since emerging from the three bailouts, and they defied the recent European trend of increasing support for populist parties.

The extremist right-wing Golden Dawn was the third largest party in Greece during the height of the financial crisis, but it failed to make the 3% threshold to enter parliament.

The centre-right New Democracy party also won in the European elections in May, promising austerity-worn Greeks tax relief, stronger growth and a pro-investments stance.

Unemployment and poverty levels have sky-rocketed in recent years, and Mr Tsipras brought the country to the brink of exiting the Euro in a bid to undo austerity.

Image: Alexis Tsipras has been Greece's prime minister since 2015

European finance ministers are meeting in Brussels on Monday and will be discussing Greece, which still has stringent fiscal targets to meet even though it no longer directly receives bailout loans.

Greece stopped getting them last summer, with the country having been forced to impose massive spending cuts and tax hikes in order to qualify.

The third and final bailout proved to be the last straw for many who had supported Mr Tsipras, with the country remaining under "enhanced surveillance" to keep its economy in check.

Capital Economics explained: "Although Greece exited its third bailout in mid-2018, it is subject to 'enhanced surveillance' which bears a striking resemblance to a bailout program. For example, the government will get further relief on the cost of servicing its public debt only if it sticks to tight fiscal policy."