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| Greece election: Anti-austerity Syriza wins election | Greece election: Anti-austerity Syriza wins election |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Anti-austerity Syriza party has won Greece's general election, putting the country on a possible collision course with the EU over its massive bailout. | Anti-austerity Syriza party has won Greece's general election, putting the country on a possible collision course with the EU over its massive bailout. |
| With nearly 75% of the votes counted, Syriza is projected to win 149 seats, just two short of an absolute majority, though that number could change. | With nearly 75% of the votes counted, Syriza is projected to win 149 seats, just two short of an absolute majority, though that number could change. |
| Left-wing party leader Alexis Tsipras, who wants to renegotiate Greece's debt, said "the Greeks wrote history". | Left-wing party leader Alexis Tsipras, who wants to renegotiate Greece's debt, said "the Greeks wrote history". |
| The governing centre-right New Democracy has come a distant second. | The governing centre-right New Democracy has come a distant second. |
| Outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has admitted defeat and phoned Mr Tsipras to congratulate him. | Outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has admitted defeat and phoned Mr Tsipras to congratulate him. |
| Syriza's result will send shockwaves through Europe, the BBC's Gavin Hewitt in Athens reports. | Syriza's result will send shockwaves through Europe, the BBC's Gavin Hewitt in Athens reports. |
| A majority of voters in Greece have essentially rejected a core policy for dealing with the eurozone crisis as devised by Brussels and Berlin, our correspondent adds. | A majority of voters in Greece have essentially rejected a core policy for dealing with the eurozone crisis as devised by Brussels and Berlin, our correspondent adds. |
| In Germany, Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann said he hoped "the new Greek government will not make promises it cannot keep and the country cannot afford". | In Germany, Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann said he hoped "the new Greek government will not make promises it cannot keep and the country cannot afford". |
| The election result is expected to be one of the main issues during Monday's meeting of 19 eurozone finance ministers. | The election result is expected to be one of the main issues during Monday's meeting of 19 eurozone finance ministers. |
| Belgium's representative Johan Van Overtveld was quoted by VRT network as saying that Greece "must respect the rules of monetary union", although he added that there was room for some - but not much - flexibility. | Belgium's representative Johan Van Overtveld was quoted by VRT network as saying that Greece "must respect the rules of monetary union", although he added that there was room for some - but not much - flexibility. |
| British Prime Minister David Cameron - whose country is not a member of the eurozone - said the result of the Greek election would "increase economic uncertainty across Europe". | British Prime Minister David Cameron - whose country is not a member of the eurozone - said the result of the Greek election would "increase economic uncertainty across Europe". |
| Meanwhile, the euro fell to $1.1098 against the dollar - the lowest level in more than 11 years. | Meanwhile, the euro fell to $1.1098 against the dollar - the lowest level in more than 11 years. |
| 'Thing of the past' | 'Thing of the past' |
| Addressing his jubilant supporters in front of Athens' university, Mr Tsipras said Greek voters gave Syriza "a clear, powerful mandate". | Addressing his jubilant supporters in front of Athens' university, 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. | "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). | "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. | 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. | Mr Tsipras earlier vowed to reverse many of the austerity measures adopted by Greece since a series of bailouts began in 2010. |
| At the scene: BBC's Chris Morris in Athens | At the scene: BBC's Chris Morris in Athens |
| On Klathmonos Square, the flags were flying high, supporters of Syriza were singing and dancing, there were hugs and tears and broad beaming smiles. | On Klathmonos Square, the flags were flying high, supporters of Syriza were singing and dancing, there were hugs and tears and broad beaming smiles. |
| This was an extraordinary victory for the radical left in Greece - probably beyond its own expectations. | This was an extraordinary victory for the radical left in Greece - probably beyond its own expectations. |
| Alexis Tsipras will now try to lead an anti-austerity revolution, backed by a strong democratic mandate. | Alexis Tsipras will now try to lead an anti-austerity revolution, backed by a strong democratic mandate. |
| He said in his victory speech that he is willing to negotiate with Greece's European partners. The question is: how much are they prepared to compromise with him? | He said in his victory speech that he is willing to negotiate with Greece's European partners. The question is: how much are they prepared to compromise with him? |
| Syriza victory: A turning point? | Syriza victory: A turning point? |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. |
| With most votes counted, Syriza is polling 36%, while New Democracy is on 28%. | With most votes counted, Syriza is polling 36%, while New Democracy is on 28%. |
| Another five parties - including the far-right Golden Dawn and centrist The River - are expected to be represented in the 300-member parliament. | Another five parties - including the far-right Golden Dawn and centrist The River - are expected to be represented in the 300-member parliament. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Who are Syriza and what do they stand for? | Who are Syriza and what do they stand for? |