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Greece election: Exit polls signal big Syriza win Greece election: Radical Syriza party heading for big win
(about 1 hour later)
Exit polls suggest a historic victory for the anti-austerity Syriza party in Greece's general election. Anti-austerity left-wing party Syriza is heading for a substantial victory in Greece's general election, official projections say.
The polls indicate that Syriza took between 36% and 38% of the total vote, with the ruling New Democracy party a distant second with 26%-28%. The party is projected to win about 150 seats, just one short of an absolute majority, though officials say that number could change.
It is unclear whether Syriza has enough votes to govern the country alone. The ruling New Democracy party is projected to come a distant second.
Syriza's Alexis Tsipras has pledged to renegotiate Greece's debt arrangement with international creditors.Syriza's Alexis Tsipras has pledged to renegotiate Greece's debt arrangement with international creditors.
He has also vowed to reverse many of the austerity measures adopted by Greece since a series of bailouts began in 2010.He has also vowed to reverse many of the austerity measures adopted by Greece since a series of bailouts began in 2010.
The result is being closely watched outside Greece, where it is believed a Syriza victory could encourage radical leftist parties across Europe.The result is being closely watched outside Greece, where it is believed a Syriza victory could encourage radical leftist parties across Europe.
The exit polls suggested Syriza had won between 148 and 154 parliamentary seats. They need 151 seats for an outright majority. Earlier, exit polls indicated that Syriza took between 36% and 38% of the total vote, with the ruling New Democracy party a distant second with 26%-28%.
"There is an ongoing thriller surrounding the absolute majority," said Michalis Karyotoglou, head of Singular Logic, the software group monitoring the voting process for the interior ministry.
Either way however, partial results from Greece's election commission showed a clear Syriza lead.
'Historic victory''Historic victory'
Syriza hailed the exit polls as "a return of social dignity and social justice".Syriza hailed the exit polls as "a return of social dignity and social justice".
"What's clear is we have a historic victory that sends a message that does not only concern the Greek people, but all European peoples," spokesman Panos Skourletis told Greek television."What's clear is we have a historic victory that sends a message that does not only concern the Greek people, but all European peoples," spokesman Panos Skourletis told Greek television.
Greek Health Minister Makis Voridis conceded that his New Democracy party had been defeated.Greek Health Minister Makis Voridis conceded that his New Democracy party had been defeated.
"We lost," he told Greek television. "The extent of that result is not yet clear.""We lost," he told Greek television. "The extent of that result is not yet clear."
Who are Syriza and what do they stand for?Who are Syriza and what do they stand for?
Far-right Golden Dawn and centrist The River came joint third in both exit polls.Far-right Golden Dawn and centrist The River came joint third in both exit polls.
The proportion of votes won by smaller parties will have a large impact on whether Syriza can gain the required 151 parliamentary seats to have an absolute majority.The proportion of votes won by smaller parties will have a large impact on whether Syriza can gain the required 151 parliamentary seats to have an absolute majority.