Greece election: Anti-austerity Syriza wins election - BBC News Greece election: Anti-austerity Syriza wins election 26 January 2015 Close share panel Media captionThe BBC's Gavin Hewitt: "Syriza's supporters celebrated into the evening" 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.

Media captionSyriza leader Alexis Tsipras: "Today the people of Greece wrote history" 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. In Germany, Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann said he hoped "the new Greek government will not make promises it cannot keep and the country cannot afford". The election result is expected to be one of the main issues during Monday's meeting of 19 eurozone finance ministers. Belgium's representative Johan Van Overtveld was quoted by VRT network as saying that Greece "must respect the rules of monetary union", although he added that there was room for some - but not much - flexibility. British Prime Minister David Cameron - whose country is not a member of the eurozone - said the result of the Greek election would "increase economic uncertainty across Europe". Meanwhile, the euro fell to $1.1098 against the dollar - the lowest level in more than 11 years. 'Thing of the past' Addressing his jubilant supporters in front of Athens' university, Mr Tsipras said Greek voters gave Syriza "a clear, powerful mandate".

Image copyright AP Image caption A large crowd gathered outside the headquarters of the Syriza party in Athens Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Crowds celebrated the victory late into the night in the capital Image copyright AP Image caption Supporters of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras of New Democracy watched with dismay "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. Mr Tsipras earlier vowed to reverse many of the austerity measures adopted by Greece since a series of bailouts began in 2010. At the scene: BBC's Chris Morris in Athens On Klathmonos Square, the flags were flying high, supporters of Syriza were singing and dancing, there were hugs and tears and broad beaming smiles. This was an extraordinary victory for the radical left in Greece - probably beyond its own expectations. Alexis Tsipras will now try to lead an anti-austerity revolution, backed by a strong democratic mandate.

He said in his victory speech that he is willing to negotiate with Greece's European partners. The question is: how much are they prepared to compromise with him? Syriza victory: A turning point? 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. Media captionOutgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said he had been obliged "to take difficult steps" to bring security to his country Either way however, partial results from Greece's election commission showed a clear Syriza lead. With most votes counted, Syriza is polling 36%, while New Democracy is on 28%. 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? Image copyright Getty Images 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 Leftwing Syriza party triumphs in European elections in Greece | Politics | The Guardian European elections Leftwing Syriza party triumphs in European elections in Greece Alexis Tsipras says outcome of the vote robs government of any 'political or moral legitimacy' to continue with austerity policies Alexis Tsipras speaks to the press in Athens after the success of the Syriza party in the European elections.

Photograph: Petros Giannakouris/AP Sunday 25 May 2014 19.02 EDT First published on Sunday 25 May 2014 19.02 EDT Share on Messenger Close The election marked a turning point for Greece on Sunday with voters delivering a resounding victory for the radical left Syriza party while sending at least three neo-nazi Golden Dawn members to Brussels. In a historic day for the left, the anti-austerity Syriza won the ballot by a margin of nearly four points over the conservative New Democracy party led by prime minister Antonis Samaras. Addressing supporters as the results rolled in, Alexis Tsipras , Syriza's leader, called for general elections to be held immediately, saying the outcome robbed the government of any "political or moral legitimacy" to continue enforcing policies that were overwhelming rejected. As the country on the frontline of Europe's debt crisis, Greece has been forced to adopt excruciating reforms and spending cuts in return for rescue packages sponsored by the EU and International Monetary Fund. "Tomorrow all of Europe will be talking about Syriza," said the 39-year-oldTsipras, also the European Left's candidate for commission president.

"Already the peoples of Europe are celebrating the defeat of the memorandum [the accord outlining Athens' two bailout agreements] in the country chosen as a guinea pig by the European leadership.". But with nearly half of the vote counted and 26.4% compared with the two-party coalition's combined 30.2 %, Samaras insisted that the result had not been the endorsement Syriza had been looking for to overturn the government. Instead, with about 9.37% of the vote it was the far-right Golden Dawn's showing that is likely to shake the Greek political establishment most. Following up on their strong performance in local elections last week, the extremists were catapulted into third place in the country's political constellation, behind Syriza and New Democracy. Although stridently anti-EU and anti-bailout – sentiments that speak increasingly to the heart and minds of a nation felled by the debt crisis – Golden Dawn is also the most vicious far-right party on the continent of Europe with a third of its leadership in prison on charges of running a criminal organisation.

In a first for any political force, the extremists who have recently gone out of their way to soften their image but are the focus of a government-ordered judicial investigation, have been accused of murder, racial violence, illegal weapons possession and extortion. In a message delivered from his Athenian prison cell, Golden Dawn's leader Nikos Michaloliakos told supporters: "I congratulate you for managing to resist the government's terrorism and for not believing their lies. We are the only political power that actually stands up against our state being run by foreign powers … "Golden Dawn is now the third force in the political life of the country. New Democracy paid the price for their policies against our people … and Syriza has failed to express the public anger. Our slogan was the thieves should be in prison and the money they embezzled returned to the people but the thieves managed to put us in jail," he railed. "They tried to dig a grave for us but they fell in it themselves." In its bid to gain international acceptability, Golden Dawn has recently made overtures to other far-right parties in the EU.

Its spokesman and candidate for Athens mayor, Ilias Kasidiaris, last week described France's Marine Le Pen as a "visionary." Le Pen's Front National has repeatedly rejected calls for cooperation from Golden Dawn whose symbol resembles the Swastika and whose leaders have publicly applauded Adolf Hitler. Topics Anti-Bailout Syriza Party Wins Greek Election By Wide Margin, Officials Say | The Huffington Post Anti-Bailout Syriza Party Wins Greek Election By Wide Margin, Officials Say 01/25/2015 12:01 pm ET | Updated Mar 27, 2015 1.5k AP/HuffPost ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The radical left, anti-austerity Syriza party has won Greece's vote, election officials said on Sunday. But it was unclear whether the communist-rooted party, led by 40-year-old Alexis Tsipras, had won by a big enough margin over Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' incumbent conservatives to govern alone. For that, they need a minimum 151 of parliament's 300 seats.

Official results from 17.6 percent of polling stations counted showed Syriza with 35 percent and Samaras' New Democracy with 29.3 percent. An exit poll on state-run Nerit TV projected Syriza as winning with between 36 and 38 percent, compared to ND with 26-28 percent. Supporters of the opposition radical leftist Syriza party cheer at exit poll results which indicate that Syriza have a clear lead on January 25, 2015 in in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images) Earlier projections had given Syriza 146-158 seats in parliament, and New Democracy 65-75 seats. Outgoing Prime Minister Samaras c onceded defeat late on Sunday, and called Syriza's Tsirpas to congratulate him on the victory. Tsipras has promised to renegotiate the country's 240 billion-euro ($270 billion) international bailout deal, and seek forgiveness for most of Greece's massive debt load.

He has pledged to reverse many of the reforms that creditors demanded — including cuts in pensions and the minimum wage, some privatizations and public sector firings — in exchange for keeping Greece financially afloat since 2010. As Tsirpas went to cast his vote in Athens, youth activists from his Syriza party were heard to chant "the Left's time has come!" "What's clear is we have a historic victory that sends a message that does not only concern the Greek people, but all European peoples," Syriza party spokesman Panos Skourletis said on Mega television. "There is great relief among all Europeans. The only question is how big a victory it is." Skourletis said the election results heralded "a return of social dignity and social justice. A return to democracy.

Because, beyond the wild austerity, democracy has suffered." He stated that Syriza's victory "sends a message against austerity and in favour of dignity and democracy." Syriza's anti-bailout rhetoric appealed to many in a country that, in the past five years of its acute financial crisis, has seen a quarter of its economy wiped out, unemployment of above 25 percent, and average income losses of at least 30 percent. But it has also renewed doubts over Greece's ability to emerge from its financial crisis, and fears that the country's finances could once again send shockwaves through global markets and undermine the euro, the currency shared by 19 European countries. People look at a giant screen showing a exit poll on January 25, 2015 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) Samaras' New Democracy party conceded defeat not too long after the exit poll was announced. "We lost," Health Minister and conservative party parliamentary spokesman Makis Voridis told private Mega TV, adding that the extent of the defeat wasn't yet clear. He said the government's austerity policies, implemented to secure vital international bailouts, "make sense" but were cut short before they could bear fruit.

Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated Syriza, saying its victory "cannot be questioned." "It is evident the Greek people believed there is another way forward than the one described by the government," he said. "For the good of the country, I hope they are right." Greeks have faced years of austerity measures, including cuts in wages, pensions and government spending, and tax increases. Greece's creditors insist the country must abide by previous commitments to continue receiving support, and investors and markets alike have been spooked by the anti-bailout rhetoric. Greece could face bankruptcy if a solution is not found, although speculation of a "Grexit" — Greece leaving the euro — and a potential collapse of the currency has been far less fraught than during the last general election in 2012. "There is an expectation of economic relief for many, of a reboot of the economy and there will be a new debate on the servicing of the debt," Syriza's Skourletis said. "Europeans have accommodated themselves with the idea." Hundreds of people turned out to celebrate outside Syriza's main electoral kiosk in central Athens, waving flags and cheering.

The centrist Potami (River) party was battling for third place with the Nazi-inspired, extreme right-wing Golden Dawn, whose leadership is in prison pending trial for running a criminal organization. Both were projected as being between 6 and 7 percent. Early official returns showed Golden Dawn slightly ahead with 6 percent, compared to Potami's 5.6 percent. If Syriza falls shy of the 151 seats necessary to form a government on its own, it will have to seek support from other parties — either in a minority government or as a coalition. A Syriza government will see Tsipras becoming Greece's youngest prime minister in 150 years. ___ 'Anti-austerity' Syriza party sweeps Greek general election 'Anti-austerity' Syriza party sweeps Greek general election Tweet Share London, Jan 26 (ANI): Greece's Syriza party, which opposes austerity measures imposed on the nation by the European Union (EU), has reportedly won the general election, setting the country up for a possible showdown with the EU over its massive bailout. Syriza is projected to win 149 seats in the 300-seat parliament, just two short of an absolute majority, reported the BBC.

The left-leaning Syriza Party leader Alexis Tsipras, who wants to renegotiate the terms for repaying the 325 billion dollar bailout and has even floated the idea of "debt forgiveness," said "the Greeks wrote history." The governing centre-right New Democracy stood a distant second. The report said that outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras conceded defeat and called Tsipras to congratulate him. The elections have showed that majority of Greek voters have rejected the core policy, devised by Brussels and Berlin, for dealing with the eurozone crisis. In Germany, Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann said that he hoped that the new Greek government will not make promises "it cannot keep and the country cannot afford." The election outcome is expected to be one the main points of discussion during Monday's meeting of 19 eurozone finance ministers. (ANI) Reblog Greece’s Syriza Wins EU Elections in Warning to Samaras - Bloomberg Bloomberg the Company & Its Products Bloomberg Anywhere Remote LoginBloomberg Anywhere Login Bloomberg Terminal Demo Request Bloomberg Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world.

Customer Support Advertising Bloomberg Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world. Customer Support Greece’s Syriza Wins EU Elections in Warning to Samaras Marcus Bensasson and Nikos Chrysoloras Greece’s main opposition Syriza party placed first in elections to the European Parliament without winning by a big enough margin to destabilize Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s government. “In the short run there is no problem of government stability,” Dimitris Sotiropoulos, associate professor of political science at the University of Athens, said in a phone interview. “While both governing parties have lost several percentage points each, their combined popular support is above the popular support of the main opposition.” Greek bonds rose today after Syriza, short in Greek for Coalition of the Radical Left, got 26.6 percent of the vote in yesterday’s election, compared with 22.7 percent for Samaras’s New Democracy, according to a count of 98.4 percent of ballots posted on the Interior Ministry website. Samaras’s junior coalition partner, Pasok, running as the Elia alliance, took 8 percent.

“Those who tried to turn the EU election into a plebiscite failed,” Samaras said in comments televised live by state-run Nerit TV. “They failed to create conditions of instability, uncertainty and political ungovernability.” The European vote, together with Greek local and regional elections, was seen as a test of the ruling coalition’s stability . While Samaras has presided over Greece’s return to capital markets, the effects of the debt crisis and a six-year recession remain visible in a country where more than half of young people are out of work. The yield on Greece’s benchmark 10-year bond fell 28 basis points to 6.21 percent at 12:12 p.m. in Athens today. Seat Share Translated into seats in the European Parliament, Syriza gets six lawmakers, New Democracy five and Elia two. Syriza’s leader, Alexis Tsipras, said in a televised statement early today that the party’s win sent a clear message against the budget-cutting austerity measures tied to Greece’s 240 billion euro ($327 billion) bailout from the euro area and International Monetary Fund, and called for immediate national elections.

“It’s the first time in Greece’s political history that a party of the radical left wins an election with a real margin,” Panagiotis Lafazanis, a Syriza lawmaker, said in a telephone interview. “The result of the Greek election brings hope to the country and is positive for Europe.” The nationalist Golden Dawn party, whose leader and five other lawmakers are in prison pending trial on charges of running a criminal organization, jumped to third place, with 9.4 percent of the vote, from a fifth-placed showing in general elections in 2012. The result gives them three seats. ‘Conscious Vote’ “The rise of Golden Dawn is the most alarming result of this elections,” Christos Dimas, a lawmaker for New Democracy, said in a phone interview. “This time it was a conscious vote for the extremists. Voters could not say they didn’t know what Golden Dawn stands for.” To Potami, a new party, placed fifth with 6.6 percent, or two seats, followed by the Communist Party with 6.1 percent, which also gives them two EU lawmakers.

In local elections, New Democracy-backed candidates won governorships in seven of the country’s regions, with Syriza winning in two, including the Attica metropolitan region that includes Athens. Independent candidates took four governorships. In Greece’s two biggest cities, Athens and Thessaloniki, the incumbent mayors, both independents, were re-elected. The Communist Party took Patras, the third-biggest city. Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal. Greece: If SYRIZA wins the election, what might happen next? | Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal Greece: If SYRIZA wins the election, what might happen next? Click HERE for more on SYRIZA . By Lisa Mittendrein and Valentin Schwarz December 2014 -- Red Pepper , posted at Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal with permission -- With Greece facing a snap general election on January 25, 2015, there is the genuine prospect of a radical left government coming to power in a European Union country. SYRIZA, a party born from a coalition of Eurocommunists, the far left, social movements and anti-globalisation activists, is riding high.

The general sentiment among SYRIZA officials and activists is that they will win the election and form the next government. The party won the European election in May 2014 and achieved some significant wins at the regional elections. It has been leading nationwide polls for months, scoring 29 per cent in late December 2014. The majority-friendly electoral law allows for an absolute majority at 35 to 40 per cent of the vote, depending on the number of parties passing the threshold. Of course, victory is by no means assured. SYRIZA will most likely win the election but fall short of an absolute majority. Between now and polling day the party will be blasted by a tsunami of propaganda and fear-mongering. At the time of writing, it seems likely the party will have to form a coalition to get into government. SYRIZA’s problem is that it there are no likely partners: The orthodox Communist Party (KKE), which campaigned with the slogan "Don’t trust SYRIZA" in 2012, has ruled out any form of cooperation.

The ostensibly social-democratic Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) is in a deep crisis, losing many of its voters to SYRIZA and thus attacking its rival fiercely. It is however facing the danger of a split between the factions of leader Evangelos Venizelos and his predecessor and prime minister Giorgos Papandreou. In general, the Greek party system is highly unstable and it is unclear which and how many parties will make it into the next parliament. If SYRIZA does fall short of an absolute majority, EU elites might exert pressure on all non-SYRIZA parties – except probably the fascist Golden Dawn and the KKE – to form a so-called government of "national unity" against SYRIZA. The near past provides a precedent for such interference. In November 2011, then-president of the EU commission Jose Manuel Barroso orchestrated the imposition of a technocratic government led by a central banker to enforce austerity in Greece, with the support of both traditional mainstream parties, PASOK and the conservative New Democracy. Nevertheless, SYRIZA activists remain optimistic – and they have a history of surpassing expectations. If SYRIZA forms a government...

If SYRIZA succeeds in forming a government then it will face a huge number of challenges on the domestic and European level. At home, it will encounter fierce opposition from big business, the austerity parties and the Greek media. Greek economic elites might use the EU’s legal framework to work against SYRIZA. For example, bank owners could file lawsuits at the European Court of Justice against the restructuring of the banking sector. For SYRIZA itself, being in government may strain the relationship between the party leadership and its supporters and change the dynamic within the party. SYRIZA will have to find a balance between its two roles – first, representing a credible alternative to the establishment, and second, bringing forward a project for government. Care will have to be taken not to damage the party’s links to the social movements, and it will need to extend its presence within society to build a bedrock of support to withstand the attacks. Greece is particularly vulnerable to pressure from external, EU elites.

Instead of preventing a SYRIZA government through threats as they did in the Greek election of 2012 (when German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble called SYRIZA "demagogues" and French president François Hollande "warned" Greeks that other countries would "want to end the presence of Greece in the Eurozone" if the party won), many within SYRIZA expect their European adversaries to play a more patient game in 2015. "They won’t do us the favour to openly oppose us. This time, if they are hostile it would be a good thing for us", says Andreas Karitzis, a member of SYRIZA’s central committee. European elites might instead choose to let SYRIZA come to power and then make it fail, either toppling the left government project as soon as possible with maximum pressure or attempting to corrupt the party. The latter would ensure the continuation of the austerity agenda, but also prevent leftists and movements across Europe from rallying behind SYRIZA and Greece.

John Milios, professor of political economy and a SYRIZA MP, considers this plan to be more probable: "I think they will try to do with SYRIZA what they did with left parties in Italy, who were very left when in opposition and neoliberal when in government… That means that we need to be careful within the party. In Marxist terms, class struggles are everywhere, even inside the party. This is why we need workers to mobilise, to support the party and put forward proposals themselves." In the view of Karitzis, the European elites will rely on the austerity regime established in recent years through new institutions and contracts. "They will accept us, negotiate with us at the beginning. They will say: 'Let’s see what you can do. There are rules you cannot violate, there are agreements you should respect.' They are confident they created a situation since 2012 that no government can change." But SYRIZA will certainly try. One of the first actions of a SYRIZA government will be to demand a reduction of public debt in Greece and Europe through an international debt conference. European governments and institutions will probably enter negotiations without making any concessions.

Karitzis says, "They are convinced that we will eventually compromise, that time is against us, so they won’t be too hostile in the beginning." Giorgos Chondros, director of SYRIZA’s department for environmental policy, expects negotiations to drag on for a while. "We will not only have to fight the Greek elites, but also the European ones. This makes our situation much more difficult. We’ll need the support of movements in the whole of Europe." John Milios anticipates "psychological warfare" from EU elites and creditors. Greece will most likely violate some of the provisions of the EU’s deficit rules. "There is no doubt that the numbers we see about Greek government accounts, the banks’ asset books, are all forged", Yanis Varoufakis, professor of economics and SYRIZA advisor, says. The true state of public finances will probably come to the surface soon after a SYRIZA government is instated. Prepared for bankers' blackmail Party figures argue that for economic reasons the Eurozone cannot afford to kick Greece out. European elites could, however, exert pressure in other ways. They could trigger a bank run inside Greece. They could tarnish the image of Greece as a tourist destination.

The European Central Bank (ECB) could stop returning profits from interest on Greek government bonds. Less structural funds for infrastructure projects like roads might be awarded to Greece – according to Varoufakis, the rules concerning these funds have been loosened in the past to support the current Greek government, meaning they could simply be applied more strictly to harm a SYRIZA government. Investors in Greek government bonds have been reassured by "winks" from Berlin and the ECB, suggesting that should Greece not pay, the debt would be covered. Varoufakis warns that "they might as well do the opposite to increase financial pressure on a left government". All of these measures would damage SYRIZA’s ability to deliver important promises to re-establish free access to healthcare, increase the lowest pensions and introduce rent subsidies. Possibly the most serious strategy would be for the ECB to threaten to stop providing liquidity to Greek banks. Varoufakis describes this as a "nuclear weapon" which could bring the Greek banking sector down almost immediately. It would be extreme, but not unthinkable: In December 2014, the ECB threatened to effectively cut off Greek banks unless the government complied with Troika wishes.

Varoufakis is convinced that a SYRIZA government must be prepared for this form of blackmail if it is to last long enough to negotiate a new deal for Greece. Despite all these challenges, there is still optimism among SYRIZA members. Although many consider it possible that their government could last only for a few weeks, they say their chances are better today than they would have been in 2012. They see fractures within the neoliberal bloc that they can try to exploit, like the ECB’s fear of deflation, the position of Italy’s prime minister Matteo Renzi, and the recent conflicts within the French government. By getting into government and implementing first measures, SYRIZA hopes to accelerate existing debates, especially within European social democracy and the trade unions. "The main idea is to support society’s self-confidence, to fight the idea that we are totally dependent on somebody else and that we cannot make our own plans as a people", says Alexandros Bistis, SYRIZA’s main campaign coordinator. For Andreas Karitzis, European societies are in danger of accepting that they are not free to decide on economic policy.

"There are historic times where you have to fight for your values, like democracy, liberty, dignity", he says. "We should try to give hope to people." [Lisa Mittendrein and Valentin Schwarz are activists with ATTAC Austria and are part of a solidarity campaign with the Greek left. This article is based on research for their report With Greece for Europe: Why we need to support the Greek left now, which can be downloaded here .] Anti-austerity party Syriza wins Greece’s general election 26 January 2015 Anti-austerity party Syriza wins Greece’s general election The party’s leader, and future prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, has vowed to end Greece’s “five years of humiliation and pain”. Print HTML The anti-austerity party, Syriza, won the general election in Greece on Sunday. It is just two seats short of an absolute majority, and its leader, Alexis Tsipras, will be the country’s next prime minister. The party’s pledge is to renegotiate the terms of Greece’s dramatic international bailout, which has inflicted years of difficult austerity on the country. Tsipras has vowed to end, “five years of humiliation and pain”.

Syriza’s win, joyously celebrated by supporters in Greece and other left-wing, anti-austerity parties throughout Europe – including the UK’s Greens – has caused concern among others about Greece’s future in the eurozone and the prospect of Grexit. David Cameron has voiced a warning following the result, saying it will, “increase economic uncertainty across Europe”. The euro fell to $1.11 against the US dollar following the election result, which is the lowest level it has fallen to in over a decade. An elected Syriza member told the BBC’s Today programme this morning that his party’s win is a “poisoned chalice” because of the pressures ahead to satisfy the majority of the Greek electorate that has been hit so hard by austerity policies devised by the EU and Germany. Anti-austerity Syriza wins Greek election | Radio New Zealand News Anti-austerity Syriza wins Greek election 2:08 pm on 26 January 2015 Share this Left-wing anti-austerity party Syriza has won Greece's general election, putting the country on a possible collision course with the European Union (EU) over its massive bailout.

Anti-austerity Syriza supporters celebrate at the Syriza election kiosk in Athens in January 2015. Photo: AFP With nearly 75 percent of the votes counted, Syriza is projected to win 149 seats, just two short of an absolute majority, though that number could change, the BBC reported. Party leader Alexis Tsipras, who has vowed to renegotiate Greece's debt with international creditors, said "today the Greeks wrote history". The ruling New Democracy has come a distant second. Outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has admitted defeat and phoned Mr Tsipras to congratulate him. Listen to The Guardian's Helena Smith Syriza's result is expected to send shockwaves through Europe, BBC correspondent Gavin Hewitt said. A majority of voters in Greece have essentially rejected a core policy for dealing with the eurozone crisis as devised by Brussels and Berlin, Mr Hewitt added. Syriza's Alexis Tsipras talks to journalists after voting at a polling station in Athens in January 2015.

Photo: AFP '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 EU, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central Bank (ECB). He also promised to negotiate a fair and mutually beneficial financial solution. Mr Tsipras earlier vowed to reverse many of the austerity measures adopted by Greece since a series of bailouts began in 2010. Outgoing PM Antonis Samaras (C) talks to journalists after voting at a polling station in Pylos in January 2015. Photo: AFP 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. "I hand over a country that is part of the EU and the euro.

For the good of this country, I hope the next government will maintain what has been achieved." The result is being closely watched outside Greece, where it is believed a Syriza victory could encourage radical leftist parties across Europe. Deutsche Bundesbank president Jens Weidmann said he hoped the new Greek government would not jeopardise what had been achieved to solve the country's economic crisis. The head of Germany's central bank said agreements had to be honoured. Germany's Left Party called the result a sign of hope for a new start in Europe and the leader of the Spanish anti-austerity party Podemos said the clock was ticking for change in Spain. The partial results from Greece's election commission showed a clear Syriza lead. With most votes counted, Syriza is polling 36 percent, while New Democracy is on 28 percent. Another five parties - including far-right Golden Dawn and centrist The River - are expected to be represented in the 300-member parliament, beating the three percent threshold. 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.

- BBC / Reuters Anti-austerity Syriza supporters celebrate after the first exit polls in Athens on 26 January 2015. Photo: AFP A girl looks out a voting booth at a polling station in Athens in January 2015. Photo: AFP Share this Greece: If SYRIZA win, expect elite attacks | Green Left Weekly RSS Greece: If SYRIZA win, expect elite attacks The general sentiment among SYRIZA officials and activists is that they will win the election and form the next government. Valentin Schwarz Friday, January 16, 2015 With Greece facing a snap general election on January 25, 2015, there is the genuine prospect of a radical left government coming to power in a European Union country. SYRIZA, a party born from a coalition of Eurocommunists, the far left, social movements and anti-globalisation activists, is riding high. The general sentiment among SYRIZA officials and activists is that they will win the election and form the next government. The party won the European election in May 2014 and achieved some significant wins at the regional elections.

It has been leading nationwide polls for months, scoring 29 per cent in late December 2014. The majority-friendly electoral law allows for an absolute majority at 35 to 40 per cent of the vote, depending on the number of parties passing the threshold. Of course, victory is by no means assured. SYRIZA will most likely win the election but fall short of an absolute majority. Between now and polling day the party will be blasted by a tsunami of propaganda and fear-mongering. At the time of writing, it seems likely the party will have to form a coalition to get into government. SYRIZA’s problem is that it there are no likely partners: The orthodox Communist Party (KKE), which campaigned with the slogan "Don’t trust SYRIZA" in 2012, has ruled out any form of cooperation. The ostensibly social-democratic Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) is in a deep crisis, losing many of its voters to SYRIZA and thus attacking its rival fiercely. It is however facing the danger of a split between the factions of leader Evangelos Venizelos and his predecessor and prime minister Giorgos Papandreou.

In general, the Greek party system is highly unstable and it is unclear which and how many parties will make it into the next parliament. If SYRIZA does fall short of an absolute majority, EU elites might exert pressure on all non-SYRIZA parties – except probably the fascist Golden Dawn and the KKE – to form a so-called government of "national unity" against SYRIZA. The near past provides a precedent for such interference. In November 2011, then-president of the EU commission Jose Manuel Barroso orchestrated the imposition of a technocratic government led by a central banker to enforce austerity in Greece, with the support of both traditional mainstream parties, PASOK and the conservative New Democracy. Nevertheless, SYRIZA activists remain optimistic – and they have a history of surpassing expectations. SYRIZA government? If SYRIZA succeeds in forming a government then it will face a huge number of challenges on the domestic and European level. At home, it will encounter fierce opposition from big business, the austerity parties and the Greek media. Greek economic elites might use the EU’s legal framework to work against SYRIZA.

For example, bank owners could file lawsuits at the European Court of Justice against the restructuring of the banking sector. For SYRIZA itself, being in government may strain the relationship between the party leadership and its supporters and change the dynamic within the party. SYRIZA will have to find a balance between its two roles – first, representing a credible alternative to the establishment, and second, bringing forward a project for government. Care will have to be taken not to damage the party’s links to the social movements, and it will need to extend its presence within society to build a bedrock of support to withstand the attacks. Greece is particularly vulnerable to pressure from external, EU elites. Instead of preventing a SYRIZA government through threats as they did in the Greek election of 2012 (when German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble called SYRIZA "demagogues" and French president François Hollande "warned" Greeks that other countries would "want to end the presence of Greece in the Eurozone" if the party won), many within SYRIZA expect their European adversaries to play a more patient game in 2015. "They won’t do us the favour to openly oppose us.

This time, if they are hostile it would be a good thing for us", says Andreas Karitzis, a member of SYRIZA’s central committee. European elites might instead choose to let SYRIZA come to power and then make it fail, either toppling the left government project as soon as possible with maximum pressure or attempting to corrupt the party. The latter would ensure the continuation of the austerity agenda, but also prevent leftists and movements across Europe from rallying behind SYRIZA and Greece. John Milios, professor of political economy and a SYRIZA MP, considers this plan to be more probable: "I think they will try to do with SYRIZA what they did with left parties in Italy, who were very left when in opposition and neoliberal when in government… That means that we need to be careful within the party. In Marxist terms, class struggles are everywhere, even inside the party. This is why we need workers to mobilise, to support the party and put forward proposals themselves." In the view of Karitzis, the European elites will rely on the austerity regime established in recent years through new institutions and contracts. "They will accept us, negotiate with us at the beginning.

They will say: 'Let’s see what you can do. There are rules you cannot violate, there are agreements you should respect.' They are confident they created a situation since 2012 that no government can change." But SYRIZA will certainly try. One of the first actions of a SYRIZA government will be to demand a reduction of public debt in Greece and Europe through an international debt conference. European governments and institutions will probably enter negotiations without making any concessions. Karitzis says, "They are convinced that we will eventually compromise, that time is against us, so they won’t be too hostile in the beginning." Giorgos Chondros, director of SYRIZA’s department for environmental policy, expects negotiations to drag on for a while. "We will not only have to fight the Greek elites, but also the European ones. This makes our situation much more difficult. We’ll need the support of movements in the whole of Europe." John Milios anticipates "psychological warfare" from EU elites and creditors. Greece will most likely violate some of the provisions of the EU’s deficit rules.

"There is no doubt that the numbers we see about Greek government accounts, the banks’ asset books, are all forged", Yanis Varoufakis, professor of economics and SYRIZA advisor, says. The true state of public finances will probably come to the surface soon after a SYRIZA government is instated. Blackmail Party figures argue that for economic reasons the Eurozone cannot afford to kick Greece out. European elites could, however, exert pressure in other ways. They could trigger a bank run inside Greece. They could tarnish the image of Greece as a tourist destination. The European Central Bank (ECB) could stop returning profits from interest on Greek government bonds. Less structural funds for infrastructure projects like roads might be awarded to Greece – according to Varoufakis, the rules concerning these funds have been loosened in the past to support the current Greek government, meaning they could simply be applied more strictly to harm a SYRIZA government. Investors in Greek government bonds have been reassured by "winks" from Berlin and the ECB, suggesting that should Greece not pay, the debt would be covered. Varoufakis warns that "they might as well do the opposite to increase financial pressure on a left government".

All of these measures would damage SYRIZA’s ability to deliver important promises to re-establish free access to healthcare, increase the lowest pensions and introduce rent subsidies. Possibly the most serious strategy would be for the ECB to threaten to stop providing liquidity to Greek banks. Varoufakis describes this as a "nuclear weapon" which could bring the Greek banking sector down almost immediately. It would be extreme, but not unthinkable: In December 2014, the ECB threatened to effectively cut off Greek banks unless the government complied with Troika wishes. Varoufakis is convinced that a SYRIZA government must be prepared for this form of blackmail if it is to last long enough to negotiate a new deal for Greece. Despite all these challenges, there is still optimism among SYRIZA members. Although many consider it possible that their government could last only for a few weeks, they say their chances are better today than they would have been in 2012. They see fractures within the neoliberal bloc that they can try to exploit, like the ECB’s fear of deflation, the position of Italy’s prime minister Matteo Renzi, and the recent conflicts within the French government.

By getting into government and implementing first measures, SYRIZA hopes to accelerate existing debates, especially within European social democracy and the trade unions. "The main idea is to support society’s self-confidence, to fight the idea that we are totally dependent on somebody else and that we cannot make our own plans as a people", says Alexandros Bistis, SYRIZA’s main campaign coordinator. For Andreas Karitzis, European societies are in danger of accepting that they are not free to decide on economic policy. "There are historic times where you have to fight for your values, like democracy, liberty, dignity", he says. "We should try to give hope to people." [Reprinted from Red Pepper . Lisa Mittendrein and Valentin Schwarz are activists with ATTAC Austria and are part of a solidarity campaign with the Greek left. This article is based on research for their report "With Greece for Europe: Why we need to support the Greek left now", which can be downloaded here .] Like the article? Subscribe to Green Left now! You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Greece election: Alexis Tsipras hails 'victory of the people' - BBC News BBC News Greece election: Alexis Tsipras hails 'victory of the people' 21 September 2015 Read more about sharing. Close share panel Media captionAlexis Tsipras: "The people gave a clear mandate for us to continue to battle in and out of the country" Greece's Alexis Tsipras has said his left-wing Syriza party has a "clear mandate" after winning a second general election in less than nine months. But he said Greeks faced a difficult road and recovery from financial crisis would only come through hard work. Syriza won just over 35%, slightly down on its previous result and still short of an overall majority. But it will renew its coalition with the nationalist Independent Greeks. Opposition New Democracy gained 28%. Far-right Golden Dawn came in third with 7%, slightly up on January's poll. Syriza was first elected in January on an anti-austerity mandate, but was forced to accept tough conditions for Greece's third international bailout.

Media captionVoters say the election result will not make a difference to life in Greece Sunday's snap election was called after Mr Tsipras lost his majority in August. Some of his MPs who had opposed the new bailout conditions split to form a new party, but it has failed to get into parliament. Turnout was low. Analysis: Paul Moss, BBC News, Athens Image caption Syriza supporters in central Athens It has been raining heavily in Athens, a drenching downpour that left one Greek observer looking at the skies, and wryly suggesting that the gods were angry at Sunday's election result. And it is hard to avoid the suggested symbolism, not of heavenly wrath but of a country where the summer seems to have ended abruptly, and where the celebrations of Syriza supporters last night have now given way to the harsh reality their re-elected government must face. It has agreed to tough austerity measures insisted on by the IMF and European Union, and now these must be implemented - cuts to pensions, rises in taxes and an end to some of the regulation and financial allowances that have kept many professions protected. Farmers have already been readying their tractors for road blockades; some of the unemployed are contemplating their own protests.

The new government's honeymoon will be a short one. "I feel vindicated because the Greek people have a clear mandate to carry on fighting inside and outside our country to uphold the pride of our people," Mr Tsipras told supporters in Athens. "In Europe today, Greece and the Greek people are synonymous with resistance and dignity. Image copyright AFP Image caption Syriza supporters were jubilant as their party won its second election in a year Image copyright Reuters Image caption Greek citizens are likely to face further austerity Mr Tsipras was joined at the celebrations by Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos. "Together we will continue the struggle we began seven months ago," Mr Tsipras said. Among the challenges facing Mr Tsipras will be satisfying international creditors that Greece is meeting the terms of the latest bailout package worth up to €86bn ($97bn, £61bn). It involved more austerity for ordinary Greeks. Creditors carry out a review in October and there is still some opposition from within Syriza. The European Commission on Monday urged Syriza to press on with reforms. "There is a lot of work ahead and no time to lose," spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who heads the Eurogroup meetings of eurozone finance ministers, said he was "ready to work closely" with the new Greek government. European Council President Donald Tusk said in a letter to Mr Tsipras that many of the biggest challenges facing the EU were the same as those facing Greece "including the refugee crisis and the creation of sustainable growth and jobs". The Greek electoral system means the party with the largest number of votes wins a bonus of 50 seats - and Syriza will have 145 seats in the 300-seat parliament, only four fewer than in Mr Tsipras's January victory. The Independent Greeks party, which is anti-austerity but agrees with Syriza on little else, won 10 seats. New Democracy won 75, Golden Dawn 18. Mr Tsipras won despite voters' rejection of austerity in a July referendum.

New government's priorities In first 100 days: Cut wage and pension costs again, but less than in previous five years (2% increase in workers' pension contributions, 2% increase in pensioners' national insurance contributions) Reform early retirement: Decide which categories will qualify for it (and revamp whole pension system before January) Recapitalise banks and set timetable for lifting capital controls Hold more talks on debt repayments with EU-IMF lenders, with goal of debt relief deal in January Adopt more tax reforms: farmers to see income tax double and fuel subsidy scrapped; new penalties for tax evasion (VAT increase was passed in July; corporation tax was raised by 3%, to 29%) Privatise more than half of state electricity network (regional airports and much of road network already privatised) Liberalise closed professions, eg removing taxi drivers' fixed tariffs Reinstate charges in state health service originally scrapped by Syriza (eg €5 charge for visit to doctor) (Source: Dimitrios Syrrakos, Manchester Metropolitan University)

Question: The SYRIZA party won the general election in which European country?
Answer: Greece