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Greece election: Radical Syriza party set for big poll victory Greece election: Anti-austerity Syriza wins election
(about 1 hour later)
Anti-austerity left-wing party Syriza is heading for a substantial victory in Greece's general election, official projections say. Anti-austerity party Syriza has won a clear victory in Greece's general election.
The party is projected to win about 150 seats, just one short of an absolute majority, though officials say that number could change. With nearly 70% of the votes counted, it is projected to win 149 seats, just two short of an absolute majority, though that number could change.
The ruling New Democracy party is projected to come a distant second. Party leader Alexis Tsipras, who has vowed to renegotiate Greece's debt with international creditors, said "today the Greeks wrote history".
Syriza's Alexis Tsipras has pledged to renegotiate Greece's debt arrangement with international creditors. The ruling New Democracy has come a distant second.
He has also vowed to reverse many of the austerity measures adopted by Greece since a series of bailouts began in 2010. Outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has admitted defeat and phoned Mr Tsipras to congratulate him.
PM Antonis Samaras has admitted defeat and phoned Mr Tsipras to congratulate him. 'Thing of the past'
"The Greek people have spoken and I respect their decision," he said during a news conference., pointing out that he had inherited a "hot potato" on coming into office and that he and his party had done much to restore his country's finances. Appearing before jubilant crowds in the capital Athens, Mr Tsipras said Greek voters gave Syriza "a clear, powerful mandate".
"You are an example of history which is changing... Your mandate is undoubtedly cancelling the bailouts of austerity and destruction.
"The troika for Greece is the thing of the past," he added, referring to the country's biggest international lenders - the European Union, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central Bank (ECB).
He also promised to negotiate a fair and mutually beneficial financial solution.
Mr Tsipras earlier vowed to reverse many of the austerity measures adopted by Greece since a series of bailouts began in 2010.
For his part, Mr Samaras said earlier: "The Greek people have spoken and I respect their decision," pointing out that he had inherited a "hot potato" on coming into office and that he and his party had done much to restore his country's finances.
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.
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."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.Either way however, partial results from Greece's election commission showed a clear Syriza lead.
'Historic victory' With 67% of the votes counted, Syriza is polling 36%, while the New Democracy is a distant second with 28%.
Syriza hailed the exit polls as "a return of social dignity and social justice". Another five parties - Far-right Golden Dawn and centrist The River - are expected to be represented in the 300-member parliament, beating the 3% threshold.
"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. The proportion of votes won by smaller parties will have a large impact on whether Syriza can gain the required 151 parliamentary seats to govern with an absolute majority.
Far-right Golden Dawn and centrist The River came joint third in 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.
Who are Syriza and what do they stand for?Who are Syriza and what do they stand for?