Post date: Jun 17, 2012 9:39:54 PM
Samaras, mobbed by cheering supporters outside his party headquarters in central Athens, called on other parties to join his government.
"It feels good" Samaras said as he entered the Zappeion conference hall to make his address to the nation.
Conservative pro-bailout New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras claims victory saying Greeks voted to stay in the euro single currency.
ATHENS, GREECE (JUNE 17, 2012) (GREEK POOL) - The jubilant conservative New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras claimed victory in Sunday's (June 17) national election, saying Greeks had voted to stay in the euro single currency.
"Today the Greek people expressed their will to stay anchored with the euro, remain an integral part of the eurozone honour the country's commitments and force their 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 with our partner s in europe in order to supplement the current policy mix with growth enhancement policies. We are determined to do what it takes and do it fast" he told Greeks.
He promised the country would fulfil its commitments to euro zone partners and said he would try to introduce growth policies to boost the country's struggling economy.
He made the comments after final exit poll results showed the conservative New Democracy and Socialist PASOK parties were on track to get enough seats in parliament to cobble together a pro-bailout coalition.
"I will ask everyone who believes in this European commitment we have (Q: what if they don't join you?) there are others that might say yes" Samaras told journalists.
But Greece's radical leftist SYRIZA party told New Democracy to form a government without them since it maintains its opposition to the country's international bailout
The interior ministry said that New Democracy party had a 3.5 point lead after nearly two thirds of ballots were counted.
With 60 percent of the vote counted at 2001 GMT, New Democracy had taken a 30.1 percent share of the vote, while the radical leftist SYRIZA party was running second with 26.5 percent.
Samaras joined more supporters on Syntagma square, in front of the parliament, where the party held its campaign kiosk.
"Today is a big day for Greece, an important day for our country, a day in which we need to move a step forward," he told them.
Greek Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos suggested his PASOK party would join a a pro-bailout coalition with the New Democracy conservatives who won Sunday's election, saying Greece needed to have a government as early as Monday.
But he called for including the radical leftist SYRIZA party in a new government, a move rejected earlier by the anti-bailout party.
An official projection showed PASOK and New Democracy would have a slender majority in parliament.