19:45 (18/9) - Final result

For the record, the final general election result for the whole of Greece and seperately for Symi.

Party	National Result	Symi Result
ND PASOK KKE SIRIZA LAOS Other parties	41.8% 38.1% 8.2% 5.0% 3.8% 3.1%	36.9% 52.4% 3.3% 3.4% 2.5% 1.5%

13:26 - 152 for ND

The governing party seems to have lost one MP as the votes from the last few polling stations are counted. A final result should be announced this evening. The slight delay is to do with the volume of work for election officials in mainly Athens polling stations who count not just the party votes but also voters' "crosses" (up to 4 in Athens) next to candidates' names. The result, however, seems final with ND winning with one of the smallest margin in recent history.

Party	National Result (99.9%)
ND PASOK KKE SIRIZA LAOS Other parties	41.8% (152 MPs) 38.1% (102 MPs) 8.2% (22 MPs) 5.0% (14 MPs) 3.8% (10 MPs) 3.1% (-)

03:56 - Almost final result and PASOK leadership challenge

95% of the votes have now been counted nationwide and the prediction remains (see 21:30 update below) that ND will gain 153 MPs (2 more needed for an overall majority). Minutes after the leader of PASOK, Mr Papandreou, announced a leadership election, a challenger came forward. Mr Vagelis Venizelos, an ex-minister and a very popular politician announced his candidature. It is expected that the leadership election will take place within the next 3 weeks.

Party	National Result (95%)
ND PASOK KKE SIRIZA LAOS Other parties	42.1% (153 MPs) 38.2% (103 MPs) 8.0% (21 MPs) 4.9% (13 MPs) 3.7% (10 MPs) 3.1% (-)

01:43 - Final Symi result

The final result from Symi has just been announced.

Party	Symi Result (100%)	National Result (75%)
ND PASOK KKE SIRIZA LAOS Other parties	36.9% 52.4% 3.3% 3.4% 2.5% 1.5%	43.0% 38.6% 7.6% 4.6% 3.5% 2.7%

01:25 - First Symi result

The first Symi result has just been announced (which includes 6 of the 10 polling stations on Symi), showing yet again a big lead for PASOK. Despite a disasterous night for the socialist party (and a record low for the share of its vote of about 38%), PASOK seems vote overwelmingly for PASOK.

Party	Symi Result (60%)	National Result (73%)
ND PASOK KKE SIRIZA LAOS Other parties	35.1% 54.6% 3.7% 3.4% 2.3% 0.9%	43.1% 38.5% 7.5% 4.5% 3.5% 2.9%

01:10 - The leaders speak

At last, the speeches! Despite the "clear" result that the governing ND party has the (possibly very small) parliamentary majority, the leaders of the two parties waited until after 1am to make their public speeches. The PM, Mr Karamanlis, went to ZAPEIO in the center of Athens (which is packed with supporters of his party) and thanked everyone for electing his party to continue in Government. Mr Papandreou, the leader of PASOK, has called for the members of his party to re-afirm his leadership, in effect calling for a party election in the very near future, in which he will be a candidate. With 2/3 of the votes counted, ND has 43.2%, PASOK 38.5%, KKE 7.5%, SYRIZA, 4.5% and LAOS 3.5%. The prediction remains for ND to gain 153 MPs.

22:45 - Waiting for the speeches

Almost 25% of the votes are now "officially" counted and it seems almost certain that ND will form the next government with 152-154 MPs (a lead of 4 to 8 MPs). Apart from the final result, everyone is now waiting for the speeches of the main party leaders, with a specific interest to what the leader of PASOK, Mr Papandreou, is going to say assuming that the current results showing a lowering of his party share of the vote (and a substantial loss of MPs) is confirmed. Will the leader of PASOK go as far as resigning? This will certainly depend on the "final" share of the vote for PASOK. The closer it is to 40%, the less likely it is (probably!) that he will resign. We will know very soon!

21:30 - First Prediction

One of the main TV stations (MEGA) have announced a final prediction based on the exit poll and the 5% of the official results that have been announced so far. According to the prediction (which is usually regarded as very accurate):

- ND 42% and 153 MPs (2 more than the overal majority)
- PASOK 37.8% and 101 MPs
- KKE 8.2% and 22 MPs
- SYRIZA 5% and 13MPs
- LAOS 4% and 11 MPs

19:20 - Exit Polls

Six exit polls has just been announced by the main TV stations. They are based on about 85% of the data collected by the polling organisations. The final (100%) exit polls will be revised at about 21:00, when the first "official results" will be coming through. The exit polls seem to confirm the indications from the last few days that the governing ND will be the first party, and that 5 parties will elect MPs. According the the following figures, it is not at all clear whether ND will be able to elect 151 MPs and hence have the majority in Parliament. The prediction at the moment if for between 149-154 MPs. Assuming the exit polls are confirmed, the Communist party has a big increase to its share of the vote compared to 2004, while PASOK seems have lost support compared to the previous elections.

Party	RASS for ERT	GPO for MEGA	METRON ANALYSIS for ANT1	MRB for ALPHA	ALCO for ALTER	VPRC for SKAI
ND PASOK KKE SIRIZA LAOS Other parties	41.2%-43.2% 37.5%-39.5% 7.0%-8.0% 4.5%-5.5% 3.0%-4.0% 2.8%-3.8%	41.0%-43.0% 37.5%-39.5% 7.5%-9.0% 4.5%-6.0% 3.5%-4.0% 2.5%-3.0%	40.2%-42.9% 36.5%-39.1% 7.5%-8.9% 4.8%-6.0% 3.2%-4.2% 2.9%-3.9%	40.8%-42.8% 37.5%-39.5% 7.5%-8.5% 4.5%-6.0% 3.5%-4.5% 2.5%-3.0%	40.6%-42.6% 37.9%-39.9% 6.4%-8.0% 4.6%-5.8% 3.3%-4.3% 2.6%-3.6%	41.0%-43.0% 36.0%-38.0% 7.5%-9.5% 5.0%-6.0% 3.5%-4.5% 2.5%-3.5%