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Greek Socialists set for poll win | Greek Socialists set for poll win |
(20 minutes later) | |
Supporters of Greece's opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) have been celebrating after exit polls suggested a win in national elections. | Supporters of Greece's opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) have been celebrating after exit polls suggested a win in national elections. |
The polls suggest Pasok has secured between 41% and 44% of the vote and will have a parliamentary majority. | The polls suggest Pasok has secured between 41% and 44% of the vote and will have a parliamentary majority. |
The ruling conservative New Democracy party, led by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has between 34% and 37%, the polls suggest. | |
Official results from the snap election are not expected for several hours. | Official results from the snap election are not expected for several hours. |
Pasok is expected to have won between 155 and 159 seats in the 300-seat parliament, compared with the ruling party's 94-100. | Pasok is expected to have won between 155 and 159 seats in the 300-seat parliament, compared with the ruling party's 94-100. |
"It is clear that the people are calling for a new course," said party official Fofi Gennimata. | "It is clear that the people are calling for a new course," said party official Fofi Gennimata. |
Senior Pasok member Theodoros Pangalos told Greek media the party had convinced voters "with the strength of our programme". | |
But New Democracy members said the polls were far from conclusive. | |
"We must wait for the real results to see if Pasok can have an absolute majority," said the party's general secretary, Lefteris Zagoritis. | |
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. |
The government has also been hit by a series of corruption scandals. | The government has also been hit by a series of corruption scandals. |
Pasok leader George Papandreou has promised he will build a green economy and bring in foreign experts to help Greece overcome its problems if elected. | Pasok leader George 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. |
Coalition | Coalition |
Mr Karamanlis had warned of the need for austerity | Mr Karamanlis had warned of the need for austerity |
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' final campaign rally. | On Friday a small bomb exploded near Mr Karamanlis' 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. |