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| Greek Socialists set for poll win | Greek Socialists set for poll win |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Supporters of Greece's opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) have been celebrating early signs of a victory in national snap elections. | Supporters of Greece's opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) have been celebrating early signs of a victory in national snap elections. |
| With 8% of votes counted, Pasok has 43.3% of the vote while Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis's ruling conservative New Democracy party has 36.2%. | With 8% of votes counted, Pasok has 43.3% of the vote while Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis's ruling conservative New Democracy party has 36.2%. |
| Exit polls suggested Pasok had 151 to 159 seats of 300 seats in parliament and the New Democrats about 99 seats. | |
| Official results are not expected to be announced for several hours. | Official results are not expected to be announced for several hours. |
| But if this trend continues Pasok will have an overall majority and return to office after more than five years. | But if this trend continues Pasok will have an overall majority and return to office after more than five years. |
| Evangelos Venizelos, a senior Pasok member and former minister said the result was "a historic victory" which "means great responsibility" for Pasok. | Evangelos Venizelos, a senior Pasok member and former minister said the result was "a historic victory" which "means great responsibility" for Pasok. |
| Another senior Pasok member, Theodoros Pangalos, told Greek media the party had convinced voters "with the strength of our programme", while party official Fofi Gennimata said it was "clear that the people are calling for a new course". | Another senior Pasok member, Theodoros Pangalos, told Greek media the party had convinced voters "with the strength of our programme", while party official Fofi Gennimata said it was "clear that the people are calling for a new course". |
| But New Democracy members said the polls were far from conclusive. | 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. | "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. |