'No' gets 61.31% after all votes counted

These are the official results of the Greek referendum, NO: 61.31 % YES: 38.69 %. Voters participation reaches 62.49 percent.

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Greek 'No' Wins Referendum With Over 61% of Votes: Near-Complete Results

More than 61 per cent of Greek voters on Sunday rejected fresh austerity demands by the country's EU-IMF creditors in a historic referendum, official results from over 95 percent of polling stations s...

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Greece heads for decisive No vote

Tsipras on course for victory with 61 per cent after more than half of votes counted

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Spanish local election shakes up political landscape

Madrid (AFP) - Spain faced a changed political landscape Monday after the "Indignado" protest movement gave the ruling conservative rivals a battering in local elections, topping the vote in Barcelona and shattering the governing party's majority in Madrid.In a dramatic shakeup of Spanish politics, an upstart group backed by the anti-austerity protest party Podemos could now govern in the capital, a longtime conservative stronghold.The new political groups Barcelona En Comu and Ahora Madrid were formally launched just a few months ago, but the results of the vote show they are already loosening the grip of the two big parties that have run Spain for nearly four decades.The new parties were born out of the "Indignado" ("Outraged") protests that swamped Spanish streets during recent years of economic crisis, campaigning against corruption and unemployment.Ahora Madrid, led by 71-year-old retired judge Manuela Carmena, came second behind Spain's governing Popular Party (PP) -- but it could govern the capital if it joins forces with the main opposition Socialists, who came third.That would mark a stunning blow to the PP, which has governed Madrid for 23 years, and to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy as he braces for a general election due around November."We will remember this as something special and extraordinary," Carmena told supporters in the city centre.Barcelona En Comu, which gained just one more seat than its nearest competitors in the city council, is led by 41-year-old activist Ada Colau, who rose to prominence defending poor homeowners from eviction. - 'David and Goliath' - "This will go down in history," she told supporters. "In this titanic struggle of David versus Goliath, we have won because we did incredible things with scarce resources and the power of the people."Thousands of supporters of both parties rallied in the streets of Madrid and Barcelona, cheering and yelling "Yes we can!""This result in Spain's two biggest cities was the most demonstrative symptom of the political and social transformation which the country faces," El Mundo wrote in an editorial on Monday.Spain's two mainstream parties, the Popular Party and the main opposition Socialists which have alternated in government for nearly four decades, captured a combined 52 percent of the vote, down from 65 percent four years ago.The PP won 12 of the 13 regional government votes but lost its absolute majorities.It won the most votes overall across the cities but saw its support plunge to 27 percent from 37 percent in 2011. - Podemos eyes general election - Podemos, an ally of Greece's left-wing ruling party Syriza, did not run itself in the town elections but placed third in voting for several regional governments.The PP and Socialists "have had one of the worst results in their history", Podemos' pony-tailed leader Pablo Iglesias told supporters after polls closed on Sunday."This spring of change is irreversible and will take us all the way to November. We will take up the challenge of winning the elections against the Popular Party."Alongside the left-wing protest groups is the economically liberal centrist party Ciudadanos, which came in fourth place in Madrid and Barcelona.Like Podemos, it has pledged to fight corruption and heal a country stricken by unemployment and spending cuts.Ciudadanos is luring voters from right and left, promising more moderate, market-friendly reforms seen as less alarming for foreign investors.In Barcelona, Colau faces a tricky job forging a coalition among a mixture of small rival parties who could unite to block her.To her supporters, however, her topping the vote felt like a triumph."I am not used to winning, it feels strange," said one of followers, 63-year-old Fernando Ramo, who retired last month after a long time unemployed."Today is different. The losers have won and it is a great victory."Top-selling daily El Pais said the results "confirm the beginning of a political upheaval in Spain". Join the conversation about this story »

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ETFs Moving On Greek Election

The Greek vote is in and the results were not a surprise; Syriza won the majority of votes and will take over the country. The news initially sent stocks around the globe lower; however, by the time the ...

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ETFs Moving On Greek Election

The Greek vote is in and the results were not a surprise; Syriza won the majority of votes and will take over the country. The news initially sent stocks around the globe lower; however, by the time the ...

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Greek Election Final Results: SYRIZA Victorious; Golden Dawn Third

With 99.86% of the ballots counted, SYRIZA has been declared the winner of the general election that took place last Sunday in Greece. SYRIZA received 36.34% of the votes and 149 seats in the Greek parliament. New Democracy, the party of former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, received 27.81% and elected 76 MPs. Far-right Golden Dawn became Greece’s third political power gathering 6.28% of the votes and 17 seats in the parliament, although its leader Nikos Michaloliakos and many of its MPs have been accused of running a criminal gang and are currently in prison. To Potami, a newly formed party by former journalist Stavros Theodorakis, received 6.05% of the votes and 17 seats in the parliament, while the Greek communist party won 15 seats with a 5.47%. The Independent Greeks (ANEL), the party headed by Panos Kammenos and a partner in the new still to be formed Greek coalition government gathered 4.75% of the voters and elected 13 MPs.  PASOK Socialists won 13 seats in the Greek parliament with 4.68% of the vote. See all the full Greek election results on the interactive infographic below:

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Syriza projected to win in Greece

Left-wing Syriza party has won Greek parliamentary elections with just over 35 percent of the votes, official results suggest.

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Greek elections: Results with 25% of the votes counted

Actual results with 25% ballots counted: Syriza 35.32, New Democracy 29.01, Golden Dawn 6.34, To Potami 5.67, Pasok 5.06, KKE 5.29.

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A total of 9.8 million Greeks are called to vote in January 25 elections

A total of 9,808,760 Greeks are called to vote in the upcoming national polls, according to the Interior ministry’s electoral lists, with women voters (5,060,877) outweighing men (4,747,883). The Athens 2nd electoral constituency ...

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Undecided voters remain Samaras’s best hope of victory

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has 10 days to win over undecided voters and overturn the opposition party Syriza’s persistent lead in opinion polls. About 9.8 million Greeks will vote on Jan. 25 in an election that calls into question the political ... ...

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Greek Prime Minister Samaras loses vote, calls election for January 25

GREEK Prime Minister Antonis Samaras last night called for an early election on January 25 that could bring an anti-austerity party to power, after parliament failed for a third time to elect a new president. The snap election is likely to rattle the economy and ­financial markets further, two years after Greece’s dire finances nearly destroyed the ­eurozone. The government’s candidate, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, won 168 votes out of 180 needed and, under the constitution, parliament will have to be dissolved in the next 10 days....

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Greece to Hold Early General Election on Jan 25

Greece to hold early general election on Jan 25, after parliament fails to agree on president

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Greek Presidential Election: Holiday Backstage Negotiations

Three days before the crucial third parliament voting on the new President of the Greek Republic the Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has come to the conclusion that he will not be able to gather more than 174-175 votes, therefore the government is preparing for national elections. Antonis Samaras’ consuls recommended that the Prime Minister make a last attempt to avoid the national elections, since they will result in uncertainty and will damage the Greek economy. Samaras is likely to make a public statement over the weekend, in order to present the implications that may arise in case of a national election. “Our country comes before any party,” is the message that the Prime Minister wishes to convey. In government it is believed that the Prime Minister did what steps could be done in order to show that in practice believes in the logic of consensus. On the other hand, SYRIZA is confident that the elections will take place so they have already started their pre-election campaign. In fact, SYRIZA has already started making plans about a new left-wing coalition government.

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Greece ’s Presidential Election: Second Round Results Do Not Elect Stavros Dimas as Greek President

The second round of voting concluded with a negative result on the election of a new Greek President by the Greek Parliament a few minutes earlier. The only candidate nominated by the coalition government partners, New Democracy and PASOK, and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ favorite, is the former Foreign Minister of the Papademos administration, and former EU commissioner, Stavros Dimas. ‘Yes’ to Dimas’ election voted a total of 168 MPs, while 131 blank votes opposed the election. One MP was not present during the vote. During this second round, at least 200 votes were needed in order to elect a new President. The final round of voting takes place on Dec. 29, where 180 votes are required — as the Greek Constitution declares. With 168 votes in the second round, the Greek coalition government is seeking at least 12 additional MPs willing to vote for Dimas in order for the country not to be driven to snap general elections. The Greek Constitution states that if a President is not elected, the country must hold general elections within a month. The main opposition party leading the latest polls, SYRIZA, has not nominated any candidate for the Presidency of the Hellenic Republic as it actively asks for general elections.

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Greek Presidential Election: The Day After the 160 Votes

The results of the first ballot in the presidential election left Prime Minister Antonis Samaras with a bitter taste. Predictions by the coalition that Stavros Dimas would get up to 167 votes in the first ballot proved to be overly optimistic. Sources near the Greek premier say that Samaras is determined to stick to the coalition strategy on the presidential election and he doesn’t want to entertain the scenario of a compromise solution. After yesterday’s voting he said that there are two ballots left and a lot can change between now and the third ballot on December 29. He also said that he would prefer a clear solution to the political impasse, even if that means the need for snap elections. A person close to the PM quoted him as saying, “If there is no president elected, we will go to elections on Januray 25,” according to iefimerida.gr. Samaras also said that even if he set a date for general elections in a few months, the opposition would ask for elections sooner. Government Vice President and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos said that MPs should elect president so that Greece avoids general elections. He proposed the formation of a committee composed of members of all parties that will negotiate with the country’s creditors. He also said that Greece should take advantage of the two-month bailout program extension so that the move to a precautionary credit line will be smoother. Samaras and SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras are not willing to compromise and accept the proposed solution of an all-party emergency government. The PM insists on a “clear solution” and despite rumors that Stavros Dimas will choose not be on the third ballot and that he will be replaced by a more widely accepted person, he says that Dimas will be on the third ballot. “Mr. Dimas is accepted by the majority in the Greek society, as opinion polls show. We expect that to show in the next two ballots in parliament as well,” a source close to the prime minister said.

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Greece’s Presidential Election: First Round Results Do Not Elect Stavros Dimas as Greek President

With a negative result on the election of a new Greek President concluded the first round of voting by the Greek Parliament a few minutes earlier. The only candidate nominated by the coalition government partners, New Democracy and PASOK, and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ favorite, is the former Foreign Minister of the Papademos administration, and former EU commissioner, Stavros Dimas. ‘Yes’ to the election of Stavros Dimas voted a total of 160 MPs, while 135 blank votes opposed the election. Five MPs were not present during the vote.

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History of Greek Presidential Elections: Secret Talks, Shady Acts

The ballot for the President of the Hellenic Republic in the past 40 years has not always been a clean affair. Since the restoration of democracy in Greece in 1974, nominees for the presidency and election processes have been characterized by secret agreements, conspiracy talks, shady deals and political mischief. 1975 In June 1975, after Greek people had decided against crowned democracy the previous year, the new Greek Constitution is finalized and Prime Minister Constantinos Karamanlis nominated Constantinos Tsatsos, who won the ballot. Tsatsos was the first President of the Hellenic Republic. 1980 After managing to integrate Greece in the European Economic Community, now European Union, Constantinos Karamanlis stepped down from Premiership and went for President of the Republic. After three eventful ballots, Karamanlis gathered 183 votes and took the seat. A year later, PASOK won the general elections for the first time. 1985 In 1985 and with PASOK in power, there was a war raging between New Democracy and PASOK. Constitution amendments stripped the President from most powers. Karamanlis was certain that he was heading for his second term as PASOK leader Andreas Papandreou had told him that he was the preferred nominee among most of his party’s MPs. However, Papandreou suddenly recommended Supreme Court Judge Christos Sartzetakis for the presidency and Karamanlis resigned embittered, leaving the seat empty. House President Yiannis Alevras took the seat temporarily, as the Constitution dictates. An argument started whether Alevras had the right to vote in the elections. Sartzetakis received 180 votes in the first ballot, 13 of them from the Greek Communist Party (KKE), the first and last time they voted for a nominee proposed by the ruling party. Two PASOK MPs voted white. In the second vote, the Sartzetakis ballots were slightly colored so that all PASOK MPs would conform with the party’s nominee. A special light was placed over the ballot box so that the ballot color was visible. New Democracy President Constantinos Mitsotakis was enraged. New Democracy MP Eleftherios Kalogiannis grabbed the ballot box and took it to the party’s headquarters. The box was returned and Sartzetakis received 182 votes. In the third ballot, Sartzetakis was elected with 181 votes and New Democracy condemned the whole process. 1990 The 1985 Constitution amendment called for open voting in the presidential election. Mitsotakis proposed Constantinos Karamanlis but he refused. Three ballots failed to elect a President. After the April 8, 1990, elections, Karamanlis agreed to accept the nomination. He won by 153 votes, 150 of which were from New Democracy MPs. 1995 PASOK had returned in power a few months earlier and Antonis Samaras was leader of the Political Spring party with ten MPs. Samaras proposed Costis Stefanopoulos for President and drove PASOK to an impasse, since the ruling party did not want to go to snap elections. The move isolated New Democracy who had proposed House President Athanasios Tsaldaris. Stefanopoulos won with 181 votes as PASOK and Political Spring collaborated. 2000 New Democracy won the European Parliament elections in 1999 and used the presidential election as a way to push for snap elections. However, popular Costis Stefanopoulos won another term by 269 votes. 2005 In December 2004, New Democracy with Costas Karamanlis at the helm was ruling the country and the nomination of PASOK stalwart Carolos Papoulias for President surprised everyone. PASOK MPs could not vote against revered Papoulias. This was a strategic move by Karamanlis, who wanted to avoid pressure for snap elections. 2010 Papoulias was re-elected since Greece had gone to snap elections in 2009 and PASOK, under George Papandreou, had won. Papandreou had used the presidential election as a means to force New Democracy to relent. Carolos Papoulias received 266 votes.

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Greek stocks in free fall as early presidential election called

The Greek stock market fell by almost 13 percent on Tuesday, after Prime Minister Antonis Samaras called early presidential elections. The election ...

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