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1st LD Writethru: Greek anti-austerity radical left SYRIZA leads in general elections: exit poll

Xinhua, January 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Greek Radical Left SYRIZA party leads Sunday's critical general elections that could determine debt-wrecked Greece's economic future and stay in the euro zone, an exit poll released with the closing of ballots at 19:00 local time (1700 GMT) showed.

Anti-bailout SYRIZA was expected to garner 35.5-39.5 percent of votes against 23-27 percent for the conservative New Democracy (ND) party of incumbent Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, according to the joint estimate of five polling firms presented on national broadcaster NERIT and private television channels.

Pollsters noted that it was still too early to say whether SYRIZA would secure outright parliamentary majority.

The party, which advocates a fresh restructuring of Greece's sovereign debt to the dismay of international lenders reviving fears of a disorderly meltdown and exit from the European common currency zone, could control 146-158 seats in the next 300-member strong assembly, according to the exit poll's estimates.

The first estimate on the official results by Singular Logic in cooperation with the Interior Ministry was due by 22:00 local time (2000 GMT) and the final official results on Monday.

The new moderate centrist River (Potami) party which was said to be the most likely partner for SYRIZA in case outright majority is not reached, was vying for the third place winning 6.4-8 percent of votes.

The far-right Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avgi) party, which first entered the assembly in the 2012 national polls riding the wave of anger at austerity introduced in 2010 to avert default, was garnering exactly the same percentages, according to the exit poll. The party had garnered 7 percent in 2012.

Seven or eight parties are set to enter the next parliament, according to the exit poll.

The anti-bailout Greek Communist party KKE followed, garnering 4.7-5.7 percent of the vote, according to the exit poll.

The socialists of PASOK, the smaller partner in the incumbent coalition government, wins 4.2-5.2 percent, according to the exit poll.

The nationalistic Independent Greeks garnered 3.5-4.5 percent of votes.

The Democrat Socialists' Movement founded in early January this year by socialist former prime minister George Papandreou is teetering on the 3 percent threshold needed to enter the parliament, under the Greek Constitution, garnering 2.2-3.2 percent of votes. Endit