Greek exit polls signal massive Syriza victory

Exit polls from Greece’s general election suggest a historic victory for the leftist, anti-austerity Syriza party.

Polls indicate that Syriza, led by Alexis Tsipras, has won between 36% and 38% of the total vote, with the ruling New Democracy party a distant second with 26%-28%.

It is still unclear whether Syriza has enough votes to govern the country alone.

Tsipras has pledge to  restore "dignity" to Greece by rolling back on cuts to jobs, pay and pensions that have affected millions of people across the country. Greece has been forced to endure heavy budget cuts as part of its bailout negotiated with the 'troika of lenders'- the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.

The Greek economy has shrunk by 25% since the 2008 global financial crisis, unemployment has risen to 25%, youth unemployment has risen to 50%, and many Greeks have been thrown into poverty.

Syriza hailed the exit polls results as "a return of social dignity and social justice".

"What's clear is we have a historic victory that sends a message that does not only concern the Greek people, but all European peoples," Syriza spokesman Panos Skourletis told Greek television.

The Centre-right New Democracy, led by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, conceded defeat.

"We lost," Greek Health Minister Makis Voridis told Greek television. "The extent of that result is not yet clear."

Far-right Golden Dawn and centrist The River came joint third in the exit polls. The proportion of votes won by smaller parties will be significant in determining whether Syriza can gain the required 151 parliamentary seats to have an absolute majority or whether it will have to form a coalition government.