by Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The Greeks woke up on Monday to a new political map after the triumph of the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party in Sunday's European parliament elections and local elections.
With 33.8 percent of votes versus 24 percent, voters handed the conservatives a victory with a record margin of more than 9 percent against the Radical Left SYRIZA party of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in the European ballot, according to the latest official results with 82 percent of votes counted.
The situation is similar in the parallel races for the election of regional authorities, mayors and municipal councilors nationwide.
The Greek leader had asked for a vote of confidence in his government's policies and the voters' response was clear.
Against this backdrop at midnight Tsipras announced that early national elections will be called in June. The most likely date, according to Greek media reports, is June 30.
In his statement on Sunday evening, the Prime Minister also presented the dilemma of the next electoral battle: stay on same course or shift.
"The Greek people will decide whether they want us to carry on with a plan to support the many or whether they want to return to the darkness of austerity, of the IMF (International Monetary Fund), of the past that we all lived through," he said.
Most political analysts and media commentators on Monday noted that Greek voters seem to already leaning towards a choice. On Sunday they voted mainly with domestic rather than European affairs in mind, according to pollsters.
Tsipras had proved "too hard to die" in the previous general elections in September 2015, which followed a six-month clash with international lenders which brought the country on the brink of default in the summer of that year, and an U-turn and signing of the third bailout program since 2010.
Greek voters gave him a second chance to ease the impact of austerity policies, Greece exited the bailout period last summer, the fiscal indexes and numbers look good, the economy is on the mend.
However, according to Sunday's results, citizens seem disgruntled with his government's policies and the conservatives seem to have the momentum as the country is heading for national elections.
"Greece turns page" read characteristically an editorial on "Vima" (Tribune) daily on Monday.
"The cycle of populism and division is time to close. Greece needs and can turn a page, leave behind her the traumatic years of crisis," read the editorial.
The Leftist leader is criticized for "investing in a politically divisive campaign" compared with ND leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis' more "conciliatory tone", although polarizing politics is not news in Greece.
Pointing to past electoral battles which ended with the outsider winning, other commentators indicated that by striking new partnerships ahead of the national elections, Tsipras may be able to change the momentum.
"It is striking that if you add to the election rates of SYRIZA, the centrists of Movement for Change (KINAL) and Potami (River), you will find that the votes of the progressive voters are the same as those of New Democracy. So, maybe it's time for a serious debate for joining forces?" read an editorial on "Ethnos" (Nation) daily.
Nevertheless, the major concern in opinion articles and editorials on Monday was not who will be the winner of the general elections, but whether the specter of division will harm Greece's course.
"The next few weeks and months will be crucial to domestic politics and to Greece's relations with its partners in the European Union, its allies and its creditors. Tsipras and Mitsotakis bear a heavy burden of responsibility as they lead the nation to elections. If division reigns, many of the sacrifices of the past 10 years will have been in vain and Greece will be in a worse position than it was before the crisis," warned an opinion article published on "Kathimerini" (Daily) newspaper.
