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| Greek election: Anti-austerity Syriza battles New Democracy | Greek election: Anti-austerity Syriza battles New Democracy |
| (12 minutes later) | |
| Greeks are voting in a general election which could result in Greece trying to renegotiate the terms of its bailout with international lenders. | Greeks are voting in a general election which could result in Greece trying to renegotiate the terms of its bailout with international lenders. |
| The leader of the left-wing Syriza party, Alexis Tsipras, has pledged to write off Greece's huge debt and revoke austerity measures. | |
| However, the current conservative prime minister, Antonis Samaras, says the austerity measures are working. | However, the current conservative prime minister, Antonis Samaras, says the austerity measures are working. |
| He has urged voters not to take Greece to the brink of catastrophe. | |
| Greece has endured tough budget cuts in return for its bailout, negotiated with the European Union, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central Bank (ECB). | Greece has endured tough budget cuts in return for its bailout, negotiated with the European Union, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central Bank (ECB). |
| The economy has shrunk drastically since the 2008 global financial crisis, and increasing unemployment has thrown many Greeks into poverty. | The economy has shrunk drastically since the 2008 global financial crisis, and increasing unemployment has thrown many Greeks into poverty. |
| Polls across Greece opened at 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and will close at 19:00. | Polls across Greece opened at 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and will close at 19:00. |
| There are nearly 10 million eligible voters, who are electing the country's 300-member parliament. | There are nearly 10 million eligible voters, who are electing the country's 300-member parliament. |
| The first exit polls are expected immediately after the voting ends. | The first exit polls are expected immediately after the voting ends. |
| 'Austerity over' | 'Austerity over' |
| After casting his vote, Syriza leader Alexist Tsipras told the BBC that "the vicious circle of austerity is over". | After casting his vote, Syriza leader Alexist Tsipras told the BBC that "the vicious circle of austerity is over". |
| He has said his party would restore "dignity" to Greece by rolling back on cuts to jobs, pay and pensions which have hurt millions of people across the country. | He has said his party would restore "dignity" to Greece by rolling back on cuts to jobs, pay and pensions which have hurt millions of people across the country. |
| The possibility of a Syriza victory has sparked fears that Greece could default on its debt and leave the euro - the single currency of 19 EU members. | The possibility of a Syriza victory has sparked fears that Greece could default on its debt and leave the euro - the single currency of 19 EU members. |
| This is despite the fact that Syriza has moderated its stance since the peak of the eurozone crisis, and says it wants Greece to stay a member of the currency. | This is despite the fact that Syriza has moderated its stance since the peak of the eurozone crisis, and says it wants Greece to stay a member of the currency. |
| Meanwhile, as he voted, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said Greeks would be taking a risk by opting for Syriza. | Meanwhile, as he voted, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said Greeks would be taking a risk by opting for Syriza. |
| "Today we decide if are going forward or if we are going towards the unknown," he said. "I am optimistic because I believe that nobody will put in danger the European course of our country." | |
| In his final campaign speech, Mr Samaras said Syriza's policies risked forcing the country to exit the euro. He has also warned that Greece could miss out on a massive programme of quantitative easing unveiled by the ECB last week to help stimulate the eurozone economy. | In his final campaign speech, Mr Samaras said Syriza's policies risked forcing the country to exit the euro. He has also warned that Greece could miss out on a massive programme of quantitative easing unveiled by the ECB last week to help stimulate the eurozone economy. |
| The centrist To Potami party and the right-wing Golden Dawn party are expected to fight for third place in the elections. | The centrist To Potami party and the right-wing Golden Dawn party are expected to fight for third place in the elections. |
| Greek economy in numbers | Greek economy in numbers |
| Are you in Greece? What issues have shaped this election? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | Are you in Greece? What issues have shaped this election? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
| Have your say | Have your say |