ABSTRACT
Greek local government is weak in competence and resources but strong in politics. Although official party candidatures are not allowed in local elections, election results are nevertheless perceived as a barometer of national politics. Local voting is strongly personalized and is mainly about local issues and the directly elected mayor. In recent elections, a proportional election system was introduced for the council, and many of the newly elected mayors were afterward forced to cooperate with opposition lists and councilors. The lack of a solid consensus culture, however, has sometimes led to problems of governability, and plans to restore the old majoritarian system for the council have already been worked out.
