Greek People 'Have Voted For The Euro'

The Greek people have voted in favour of staying in the euro, New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras has told reporters after his party were projected to win the election.

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 could 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 phoned the leader of New Democracy, Antonis
Samaras, and told him to go ahead and form a government.

After 15% of the votes counted, New Democracy had taken a 31.1% share of the vote, while Syriza was running second with 25.4% of the vote.

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.

The result of this election could determine the country's future in Europe, and that of the single currency.

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.

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

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

If neither side achieves a majority, they will both be looking to cut a deal.

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.