BBC. Greece election: Exit polls signal big Syriza win

Exit polls suggest a historic victory for the anti-austerity Syriza party in Greece's general election.

Polls suggested Syriza took between 35.5% and 39.5% of total votes. The ruling New Democracy party came a distant second with 23%-27% of the total vote.
It is unclear whether Syriza has enough votes to govern the country alone.
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.
The result is being closely watched outside Greece, where it is believed a Syriza victory could encourage radical leftist parties across Europe.
'Historic victory' 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.

 

Syriza supporters in Athens greeted the exit polls with jubilation

 

 

Supporters of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras of New Democracy watched with dismay

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."
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.