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Greece's Socialists win snap poll | Greece's Socialists win snap poll |
(20 minutes later) | |
Greece's opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) has won the country's snap general elections. | Greece's opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) has won the country's snap general elections. |
Outgoing PM Costas Karamanlis has congratulated Pasok leader George Papandreou and resigned as leader of the conservative New Democracy party. | Outgoing PM Costas Karamanlis has congratulated Pasok leader George Papandreou and resigned as leader of the conservative New Democracy party. |
With some 40% of ballots counted, the socialists had more than 43% of the vote, to 35% for New Democracy. | With some 40% of ballots counted, the socialists had more than 43% of the vote, to 35% for New Democracy. |
Pasok needs 43% to win an absolute majority in parliament. It has been in opposition for more than five years. | Pasok needs 43% to win an absolute majority in parliament. It has been in opposition for more than five years. |
Evangelos Venizelos, a senior Pasok member and former minister, said the result was "a historic victory" which "means great responsibility". | |
In a televised address, Mr Karamanlis said: "I assume responsibility for the result and will launch procedures for the election of a new party leader." | |
Coalition | Coalition |
Mr Karamanlis called the election in early September, half way through his four-year term. | Mr Karamanlis called the election in early September, half way through his four-year term. |
He said he wanted a new mandate to tackle Greece's economic problems, but his opponents say he has failed to fulfil promises to clean up public office and to modernise the country. | He said he wanted a new mandate to tackle Greece's economic problems, but his opponents say he has failed to fulfil promises to clean up public office and to modernise the country. |
Mr Karamanlis had warned of the need for austerity | Mr Karamanlis had warned of the need for austerity |
The government has also been hit by a series of corruption scandals. | The government has also been hit by a series of corruption scandals. |
Mr Papandreou has promised he will build a green economy and bring in foreign experts to help Greece overcome its problems if elected. | Mr Papandreou has promised he will build a green economy and bring in foreign experts to help Greece overcome its problems if elected. |
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant says voters seem to prefer Mr Papandreou's promise of a 3bn Euro ($4.4bn:£2.7bn) stimulus package to the programme of austerity proposed by Mr Karamanlis. | The BBC's Malcolm Brabant says voters seem to prefer Mr Papandreou's promise of a 3bn Euro ($4.4bn:£2.7bn) stimulus package to the programme of austerity proposed by Mr Karamanlis. |
Correspondents say the build-up to the election has been lacklustre. A recent poll has also suggested nine out of 10 voters no longer trust either party. | Correspondents say the build-up to the election has been lacklustre. A recent poll has also suggested nine out of 10 voters no longer trust either party. |
On Friday a small bomb exploded near Mr Karamanlis's final campaign rally. | On Friday a small bomb exploded near Mr Karamanlis's final campaign rally. |
The blast, which caused no injuries and only minor damage, was claimed by a leftist group calling itself The Fire Conspiracy Cells the following day. | The blast, which caused no injuries and only minor damage, was claimed by a leftist group calling itself The Fire Conspiracy Cells the following day. |
The opposition needs at least 43% of the national vote to be sure of an overall majority. | The opposition needs at least 43% of the national vote to be sure of an overall majority. |
Forty seats are automatically awarded to the leading party and the remaining 260 are divided by proportional representation. | Forty seats are automatically awarded to the leading party and the remaining 260 are divided by proportional representation. |
If no party wins outright, President Karolos Papoulias will ask the leader of the largest party to try to form a coalition government. If that fails, new elections will be called. | If no party wins outright, President Karolos Papoulias will ask the leader of the largest party to try to form a coalition government. If that fails, new elections will be called. |