Greece's Syriza Wins Clear Victory in EP Elections
Greece's radical leftist Syriza won 26.7% of the vote for European Parliament, ahead of Samaras's New Democracy conservatives which is projected to take 22.8%, according to official preliminary results, Reuters reported.
The co-ruling Socialist PASOK is projected to secure 8.1% of the vote, Reuters added. The two co-ruling parties managed a bigger combined share of the vote than Syriza, which analysts said averted the possibility of early elections for now.
"Europeans are celebrating the defeat of the bailout and austerity in the country the European leadership turned into the guinea pig of the crisis," Reuters quoted Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras as saying. Tsipras reiterated a call for early elections.
"Two years ago, with your mandate we averted the worst for Greece. Today we averted the nightmare: going back to the ordeal we went through and which we are overcoming," prime minister Antonis Samaras said in a televised statement.