Beware of Greeks ... subservience is over

Editor's Comment:
At the time of this posting, ballot counting is still ongoing in Greece. Syriza may fall just short of an outright majority when the final tally is in, but the Greek people have clearly sent a message to the world. 'Piss on your damn spending for the rich and austerity for everyone else'.

- prh, Editor
Axis of Logic

“The wind of democratic change is blowing in Europe.”

—Pablo Iglesias, Podemos

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.

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.

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.

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.

'Thing of the past'
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.

"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.

Anti-austerity Syriza supporters celebrate after the first exit polls in Athens on January 25, 2015 Syriza supporters in Athens greeted the exit polls with jubilation

Elderly supporters of Conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras watch the exit poll results at the election kiosk of New Democracy party in Athens, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 Supporters of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras of New Democracy watched with dismay

Supporters gather outside the headquarters of the Syriza party in Athens A large crowd gathered outside the headquarters of the Syriza party in Athens

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.

"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 winner.

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.

Who are Syriza and what do they stand for?

Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras: "Today the people of Greece wrote history"

An acronym meaning the "Radical Coalition of the Left", Syriza was formed in 2004 as an umbrella group
Led by 40-year-old Alexis Tsipras
The party first came to prominence following the 2008 Greek riots
It promises an end to Greece's painful austerity measures and wants to renegotiate its debt
Markets worry about a Greek debt default and a possible exit from the eurozone, though Syriza says it wants to keep the euro

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