Econintersect: With less than 10% of the vote counted, the conservative New 
Democracy Party had accounted for nearly 22% of the vote, with the socialist PASOK party in second place at about 15%. In a close third, The Left Coalition (Greece Coalition of the Radical Left) had 14%. The Left Coalition had campaigned against the international bailout plan that has invoked severe austerity on the country. The results reported so far are official, or at least as official as preliminary returns can be, having been issued by the Greek interior ministry.
The Wall Street Journal has called the early results a “stinging rejection” of the country’s two leading parties (New Democracy and PASOK) who have early returns totaling less than 40%. Three years ago the two parties combined for 77% of the vote. This election has as many as ten parties that could capture the 3% minimum required to place elected candidates in parliament.
Early exit polls were reported just after the polls closed by Free Republic (reported from Twitter):
- New Democracy 17-20%
- PASOK 14-17%
- SYRIZA (Greece Coalition of the Radical Left) 15.5-18.5%
- AN. ELLHN. 10-12%
- KKE 7.5-9.5%
- XRYSH AYGH 6-8%
- DHMAR 4.5-6.5%
The Wall Street Journal has reported what appear to be later exit poll results showing a surge for The Left Coalition into second place:
- New Democracy 20%
- SYRIZA (Greece Coalition of the Radical Left) 15-17%
- PASOK 14%
- AN. ELLHN. No data given
- KKE No data given
- XRYSH AYGH No data given
- DHMAR No data given
Sources:
- Greek conservatives lead Socialists in early results (Harry Papachristou, Deepa Babington and Mike Peacock, Reuters, 2:18 pm 6 May 2012)
- Live Streaming: Greece Election Results (Free Republic, 12:09 pm 6 May 2012)
- UPDATE: Greece’s Conservatives Secure Slim Lead, No Outright Vote – Exit Polls (Alkman Granitsas, Stelios Bouras and Costas Paris, The Wall Street Journal, 2:18 pm 6 May 2012)
