Greek elections rolling blog/open thread

By Matthew Barrett
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9.45pm 

When push comes to shove, the Greek people voted for austerity and sanity. Are you listening, Labour?

— Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) June 17, 2012

9.30pm Daniel Hannan MEP has blogged:

"Greece is in denial. It rejects austerity, but insists on keeping the euro. All the main parties duly parroted what the voters wanted to hear, making for a fantasy election, a make-believe election, a fingers-in-my-ears-I-can't-hear-you election. The only list which was honest about the necessary cuts – a coalition of three liberal parties – failed to gain a single seat."

9.15pm

ND leader Samaras says he has spoken to 'many' European leaders tonight and will speak to more #Greece2012

— Kathimerini English(@ekathimerini) June 17, 2012

8.45pm

Greece repeats itself, only more emphatically: we want the euro, we don't want austerity and we don't want to have to choose. #Greece2012

— Daniel Hannan (@DanHannanMEP) June 17, 2012

8.30pm New Democracy leader Samaras:

"Today the Greek people expressed their will to stay anchored with the Euro, remain an integral part of the Euro Zone, honor the country's commitments and foster growth. This is a victory for all Europe. I call upon all political parties that share those objectives to join forces and form a stable new government. I will make sure that the sacrifices of the Greek people will bring the country back to prosperity."

7.45pm 

Greece: SYRIZA party says will not take part in a government that supports an EU/IMF bailout - Reuters

— DamoS (@felix85) June 17, 2012

7.30pm The Spectator's James Forsyth introduces the "Syriza Tories" - Tories hoping the far-left party wins the election.

7.20pm

This is unexpected: Pasok (3rd place) say won't join coalition unless far-left Syriza included. Hopes for a new Govt suddenly look bleaker

— James Mates (@jamesmatesitv) June 17, 2012

7.10pm In other European election news, French President Hollande now has a parliamentary majority.

7pm The BBC has a good background Q&A explaining what a win for Syriza means in real teams:

"If anti-austerity parties manage to form a cabinet led by Syriza, the new government may refuse to honour the cost-cutting measures its predecessor agreed with Brussels. Greece could find itself out of the eurozone and reintroducing the drachma. Analysts predict a dramatic devaluation of the new currency, accompanied by rapid inflation and business failures. However, some think this would give Greece the chance to rebuild its economy from a position of greater competitiveness."

6.50pm

Second exit poll: ND 28.6-30%, SYRIZA 27.5-28.4%, PASOK 11-12.4%, Ind Greeks 6.8-7.8%, Golden Dawn 6.5-7.1%, Dem Left 5.8-6.6%

— Open Europe (@OpenEurope) June 17, 2012

New Democracy & Pasok can form majority coalition govt w 159 seats in 300-seat parl acc to final exit poll #wsjeuro #Greece2012

— Matina Stevis (@MatinaStevis) June 17, 2012

6.45pm As the Greek election results begin to come in - election results which may decide the fate of the €uro - we'll have a rolling blog/open thread on the night's results and reaction to them, starting with Douglas Carswell MP, who says...

Syriza or no Syriza, Greek poll won't change laws of maths. Greece is still going to default on its debts. The sooner, the better

— Douglas Carswell MP (@DouglasCarswell) June 17, 2012