Anti-austerity party wins decisive victory in Greece

Greece rejected the punishing economics of austerity on Sunday and sent a warning to the rest of Europe as the left-wing Syriza party won a decisive victory in national elections, positioning its tough-talking leader, Alexis Tsipras, to become the next prime minister.

With 92 per cent of the vote counted, Syriza had 36 per cent, almost 8 points more than the governing center-right New Democracy party of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who conceded defeat.

The only uncertainty was whether Syriza would muster a parliamentary majority on its own or have to form a coalition.