Greece's left-wing leader concedes election

Athens
(ansa-ap) ATHENS, Greece - tHE Latest on Greece's parliamentary election (all times local): 9:35 p.m. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has conceded his country's parliamentary election and said he phoned conservative opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis to congratulate him on his victory. Official results with more than half of ballots counted showed Mitsotakis' New Democracy party comfortably winning Sunday's election, receiving 39.7% of the vote compared to 31.5% by Tsipras' Syriza party. The election is likely to give Mitsotakis a comfortable parliamentary majority. In a speech from central Athens on Sunday night, Tsipras said: "The citizens have made their choice. We fully respect the popular vote."

(ANSA-AP) - ATHENS, Greece — Exit polls in Greece's general election indicate conservative opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis has won a comfortable victory over left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

The exit polls from Sunday's election predicted Mitsotakis' New Democracy party would win enough seats in Greece's 300-member parliament to form a government without needing to enter a coalition with another party.

The vote was Greece's first parliamentary election since the country emerged from three successive international bailouts and as it continues to struggle from a crippling financial crisis of nearly a decade.

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Greeks have begun voting in the first parliamentary election since their country emerged from three successive international bailouts.

The vote is held three months earlier than originally planned after left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras saw his support erode during European elections.

Opinion polls suggest Greeks are set to defy the recent European trend of increasing support for populist parties, with conservative opposition party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis a clear favorite to win.

Sunday's vote comes as the country gradually emerges from a brutal nearly decade-long financial crisis that saw unemployment and poverty levels skyrocket, and Greece's economy slashed by a quarter.

Greece was dependent for survival until last summer on international bailouts, and had to impose deep reforms, including massive spending cuts and tax hikes, to qualify for the rescue loans.

(ANSA-AP) ATHENS, Greece - Greeks have begun voting in the first parliamentary election since their country emerged from three successive international bailouts.

The vote is held three months earlier than originally planned after left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras saw his support erode during European elections.

Opinion polls suggest Greeks are set to defy the recent European trend of increasing support for populist parties, with conservative opposition party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis a clear favorite to win.

Sunday's vote comes as the country gradually emerges from a brutal nearly decade-long financial crisis that saw unemployment and poverty levels skyrocket, and Greece's economy slashed by a quarter.

Greece was dependent for survival until last summer on international bailouts, and had to impose deep reforms, including massive spending cuts and tax hikes, to qualify for the rescue loans.

Ballots open till 7pm. Tsipras: let'so go to vote. (ANSA-AP).

(ANSA-AP) - ATHENS - Greek voters appear set to defy a surge of support populist parties across Europe in a general election Sunday, with the pro-EU center-right opposition firmly in the lead. Left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called the snap poll after being trounced in May's European parliamentary elections by Kyriakos Mitsotakis' conservative New Democracy. Opinion polls have suggested the 51-year-old Mitsotakis has held onto his strong lead. Mitsotakis is a strong supporter of European integration, while Tsipras has aligned many of his policies with the European Socialists ahead of the Greek election which is being held three months ahead of schedule. Support for the government has been hit by high taxes and tough spending measures imposed during years of financial crisis and international bailouts. (ANSA-AP).