GREEK ELECTIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A000700020009-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 31, 2002
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: February 24, 1956
• Content Type: BRIEF

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 Approved For Relea
NSC U I &. ING
24 February 1956
G?-,. .Ei. ELECTIONS
1. prime 1. inister Kara.manlis' victory in 19? r~ebruaxy Greek elections
gives him control of new parliament. however, Communist-inspired
activity in new parliament will also be at new peak.
A. Ka.rama.nlis' own "National Ava.diea.l Union" (EPEE) won at least
16J of total '300 seats, although polling only some 46Zof
popular vote.
U. popular Front coalition of Center and Left parties, which
opposed ERE, ha.s already split.
1. Leaders of Center parties, controlling about 'i seats,
have a.nnounced support for Ka.ra.ma.nlis on foreign policy.
-heir future voting, however, will be determined by
ka.ra.manlis' ability to satisfy their minimum dexa.nds.
C. popular : Front successes at polls, however, mean that the
communist-influenced bloc in new pa.rlia.n.ent will be largest
in Greek history.
1.
Communist-front United Democratic Left (EDA) got 19
seats, and fellow-travelling Democratic party (DKEL)
got 20.
`?.
Gonsta.nt maneuvering against (ara.ma.nlis can be expected
from this leftist bloc.
II. Kaxama.nlis' new governzr?ent, vith parliamentary majority, will
try to apply itself to Greece's pressing domestic1 axie4 foreign
roblems.
State Dept. review completed
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1. The Communist-influenced minority, having won some
measure of respectability, will have forum for its
propa.ga.nda from which to harass and emba.ra.ss government.
2. Greek political parties consist traditionally of personal
followers, and tendency of politicos to stray away or
detect is always strong.
1 T , ara.manl is' tenure depends on:
A. His ability to win public support by a successful program of
economic improvement.
B. His success in handling to the satisfaction of public
sentiment such emotion-charged issues as Cyprus dispute with
Britain, Greek-Turnish relations.
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EK FL
Radical Union of Prime ste
and a Communist-supported '. 'Itp 001'a
the Democratic Union;
into final week.
A. Elections (19 Feb)
300 seats in Greek parliament.
Both parties have enteredin all
electoral districts.
II. Karamanlis appears at present'to have a
slight edge.
A. His campaign in Northern Greece
"successful beyond best expectations."
B. Public support for Karamanlis' from
Cypriot Archbishop Makarios refutes
;4. .
opposition claim that Premier is'
bowing to UK and US pressure.
C. Consensus of informed Greek opinion,
including palace circles,is that
Karamanlis wil ,*a majority.
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kr, i in int+ r::;a tionai affairs
could tip balance in favor of opposition
A. Ambassador Cannon believes publication
of Cyprus negotiations might
Karamanlis.
,,New Greek-Turkish incident
could;
increase neutralist feeling.
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