Last weekend the socialist party of Greece (PASOK), whose colour is green, won the elections with ease. What was different from previous elections, was the green agenda of PASOK and the ‘green’ character of the election campaign.

The new government's election programme sought to encourage a green sustainable economy that will create ‘green’ jobs apart from the obvious benefits to environment. Among PASOK promises was the creation of ministry of environment (for a first time in Greek history) and the 65% reduction of green house emissions by 2050, while according to PASOK president to turn Greece into the Denmark of the South in relation to environmental policies. Therefore, one could expect a true green revolution in Greece, which is a country with a dark past in relation to environment protection.

The past Greek administrations of the former PASOK governments are the main challenges. There are a number of environmental scandals such as: the pollution of river Asopos with the ‘protection’ of the state; the ‘obsolete’ waste management for which Greece is found guilty by the European Court of Justice and of course the building of the burning forests by the business establishment of Greece. The concerns appear valid taking into account that the changes in the behaviour of civil administration are slow, the civil society is still in its infancy; and that many of current PASOK members were part of the old administrations that committed several environmental scandals such as the fraud of the wind park of Crete in 1990s.

The future will show if indeed Greece is turning green. Nevertheless, the first signs are encouraging. Environment for a first time became one of the central policies of the election campaign, the Green party doubled its election result and most important with a more environmental friendly election campaign from most of the parties that reduced to minimum the use of posters and leaflets. The future will show.