Greek People ‘Have Voted For The Euro’

The Greek people have voted to remain in the euro, New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras has declared after his party was projected to win the election.

The conservative leader claimed victory in a speech in Athens and called for a government of national unity.

“The Greek people voted today to stay on a European course and remain in the eurozone,” he said.
“There will be no more adventures; Greece’s place in Europe will not be put in doubt, the sacrifices of the Greek people will bear fruit.”

The pro-euro conservative party will win the election with 29.5% of the overall vote – just ahead of the radical left Syriza party on 27.1%, according to an official projection.

That means New Democracy will be the biggest single party with 128 seats in the single-tier parliament – but it will not have an overall majority.

However, the conservatives are expected to gather enough support to form a pro-bailout coalition with the socialist Pasok party to keep the country in the eurozone.

Official projections show Pasok will win 12.3% of the overall vote and 33 seats.

Syriza’s leader Alexis Tsipras has conceded defeat, sending his congratulations to Mr Samaras.
“We will be here as the opposition, we represent a majority of people opposed to the bailout deal,” he said.

With just over 37% of the vote counted, official results showed New Democracy with 30.5% of the vote, ahead of Syriza’s 26% and Pasok with 12.9%.

After polling stations closed at 7pm local time, the first exit poll suggested it would be neck-and-neck between the conservatives and the radicals.

The poll showed New Democracy taking between 27.5%-30.5% of the vote, while Syriza was just behind with 27%-30%.

They were followed by the Pasok socialists with 10%-12% of the vote.

An updated exit poll two hours later put New Democracy ahead by slightly more, with 28.6%-30% of the vote.

New Democracy is committed to keeping Greece within the euro and has vowed to negotiate with Greece’s creditors to ease the bailout conditions and try to boost economic growth.

The anti-bailout Syriza had promised to rip up the current agreement – a move many believed would force Greece to leave the eurozone.

Roughly, a single party needs between 36%-38% to have an overall majority – and the figures show the two lead parties well below that.

But of the 300 seats in parliament, 250 will be awarded according to the share of the vote – the remaining 50 will be given to the party which receives the most support.

Original Article from Sky News

Figures from the Ministry of Interior

On:18-06-2012

At: 01:25

Nea Dimocratia	129	29,69 %
Syriza	71	26,87 %
Pasok	33	12,33 %
Independent Greeks	20	7,49 %
Golden Dawn	18	6,92 %
Democratiki Aristera	17	6,24 %
KKE	12	4,51 %
		1,58 %
		1,57 %
		0,88 %
		0,39 %
		0,33 %
		0,29 %
		0,28 %