Greece's main opposition Radical Left SYRIZA party has gained a clear lead in the elections for the European parliament winning 26.7 percent of votes over a 22.8 percent garnered by the ruling conservative New Democracy (ND) party, the first official estimates released by the Interior Ministry showed on Sunday evening.
Far-Right Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avgi) party ranks third with 9.3 percent of votes, followed by the centre- Left electoral coalition of Elia (Olive Tree) which includes the co-ruling socialists of PASOK that garners 8.1 percent.
The other Greek parties which elect MPs (member of the parliament) in the new European Parliament are the newly founded centre-Left party of Potami (River) which receives 6.7 percent of votes, the Greek Communist party KKE 6 percent and the nationalists Independent Greeks 3.4 percent of votes, according to the early estimates which are based on about 15 percent of all votes counted.
The final official results on the ballots for the European elections as well as the results on the parallel polls for regional and municipal councils will be announced on Monday.
Exit polls and the early official results in local elections with only five percent of total votes counted indicate a neck and neck race for the post of the Regional Governor of Attica between SYRIZA's candidate Rena Dourou and incumbent Yannis Sgouros who get 50.3 percent and 49.6 percent respectively.
In the Municipality of Athens which also attracts great interest in the local administration polls, incumbent Yorgos Kaminis leads with 51.2 percent over 48.7 percent for SYRIZA's candidate Gavriil Sakellaridis.
The two battles in the Region of Attica and the City of Athens hold traditionally a special significance in elections in Greece, since approximately half of the country's population lives in the capital and its suburbs.
The first round of local polls on May 18 however showed that regardless of the outcome in Attica and Athens the ruling parties retain their strength in the wide majority of the 13 regions and more than 300 municipalities across Greece.
The May 25 elections for the European parliament and local administration have turned into a referendum of the economic policies of the government.
SYRIZA has suggested that in case of a lead with a wide margin it would call for early general elections, while the government rejects any such discussion, noting that as Greece returns to growth after four years of painful austerity it needs stability to move forward.
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