Tsipras forgiven for bailout U-turn
With more than 80 per cent of the vote counted, Syriza stood at 35.5 per cent of the vote and 145 seats in the 300-member parliament, followed by the conservative New Democracy with 28.3 per cent and 75 seats and the Nazi-inspired Golden Dawn in third place with 7 per cent and 18 seats.
Abstention was particularly high, however, at nearly 45 per cent in an election-weary country with a traditionally high voter turnout.
It was the third time this year Greeks voted, after the January election that brought Tsipras to power on an anti-bailout platform, and a July referendum he called urging Greeks to reject creditor reform proposals, which they resoundingly did – shortly before Tsipras then accepted similar proposals as part of the new bailout.
Tsipras said he would form a government with his previous coalition partner, the right-wing Independent Greeks of Panos Kammenos.
‘‘I feel vindicated because the Greek people gave us a clear mandate to continue our struggle, inside and outside the country to lift our country’s pride,’’ Tsipras said.
The 41-year-old vowed to govern for a full four-year term – something few Greek governments have managed, particularly since the country became dependent on international bailouts five years ago. Greece has seen six governments and four parliamentary elections since 2009.
‘‘We will place our people’s just cause at the forefront faced with asymmetrical powers and enemies more powerful than us,’’ Tsipras said.
The new anti-bailout Popular Unity party, formed by rebel Syriza members who objected to Tsipras’s agreement to a third bailout for Greece and the stringent austerity attached to it, was falling short of the 3 per cent parliamentary threshold.
‘‘We lost the battle, but not the war,’’ said Popular Unity head Panagiotis Lafazanis, Tsipras’s former energy minister.
New Democracy party head Vangelis Meimarakis conceded defeat shortly after exit polls showed a clear Syriza victory, and called for a government to be formed quickly.
The new government will have little time to waste.
Greece’s creditors are expected to review progress of reforms as part of the bailout next month, while the government will also have to draft the 2016 state budget, overhaul the pension system, raise a series of taxes, carry out privatisations and merge social security funds. It must also oversee a critical bank recapitalisation programme, without which depositors with over € 100,000 (NZ$176,000) in their accounts will be forced to contribute.