Summary

  • Anti-austerity party Syriza is heading for clear victory in Greece's general election, an official projection shows

  • Leader Alexis Tsipras says his new government will negotiate a viable financial solution but existing international bailout conditions are over

  • Outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras concedes victory

  • Syriza may fall just short of 151 seats needed for an outright majority

  • Far-right Golden Dawn and centrist The River are set for joint third place - smaller parties will determine if Syriza can govern outright

  • All times GMT

Live Reporting

Paul Kirby, Patrick Jackson, Kerry Alexandra and Mohamed Madi

  1. Theopi Skarlatos, journalist, Athens

    tweets: Outside Syriza tent an atmosphere of European left solidarity. Hearing more Italian & Spanish than Greek. German Die Linke here too

  2. Mega TV shows flags waving outside Syriza headquarters under the party's slogan, "Hope is on its way".

    Screen grab from Syriza headquarters

  3. At the Syriza party headquarters, a cheer went up from supporters as the results of the exit polls were announced.

  4. Jasmine Coleman, BBC News, Athens

    tweets: Sebastian, 24, Potsdam [Germany] - It's not just a victory for the Greek people but for Europe. It shows there's an alternative

    Sebastian, 24, from Potsdam, Germany, in Athens

  5. Eric Parks, entrepreneur, Athens

    tweets: Low point of the evening: Neo-Nazis outperform opinion polls, battle for 3rd place. A huge - if expected- embarrassment.

  6. Piers Scholfield, BBC News, Athens

    tweets: Exit polls suggest v big win for Syriza. But they are only exit polls.

  7. A third exit poll, on Skai TV, gives Syriza 36-39% of the vote and New Democracy 24-27%. That would be a 12-point margin of victory, two points less than the two carried by public TV channel Nerit

  8. People are gathering at the Greek parliament in Athens for the results.

    People gather at the Greek parliament in Athens, 25 JanuaryGetty Images

  9. Here is a guide to the parties contesting the election, from anti-austerity Syriza to the far-right Golden Dawn: Greek elections: Who's who?

  10. @MacroPolis.gr Main exit poll number of MPs Syriza 146-158; New Democracy 65-75; Golden Dawn 17-22; To Potami (The River) 17-22

  11. The River, a new centrist party, and the far-right Golden Dawn came joint third according to both exit polls (6.4% and 8%).

  12. @MacroPolis.gr website estimates that Syriza would win 146-158 seats depending on which exit poll was correct. New Democracy would have 65-75 seats. Remember victory gives the winning party a 50-seat bonus.

  13. The same two exit polls gave New Democracy 23% and 27% respectively.

  14. One exit poll gave Syriza 35.5% and another - 39.5%.

  15. Polls have closed and exit polls suggest Syriza, the opposition leftist alliance which dominated the race, has won by a 14% margin over its closest rival, the conservative New Democracy party.

  16. Welcome to our live coverage of the crucial parliamentary election in Greece, where polls are about to close. Stay with us for news updates, correspondent analysis and comment from readers.