Greece election: Alexis Tsipras hails 'victory of the people'
Alexis Tsipras has hailed a "victory of the people" after his left-wing Syriza party won Greece's fifth election in six years.
He said Greeks faced a difficult road and that recovery would only come through hard work.
The conservative New Democracy party earlier conceded defeat.
With half the votes counted, Syriza is projected to be just short of a majority but the Independent Greeks have agreed to join a coalition.
The latest figures give Syriza 35% of the vote, compared with New Democracy's 28%.
The snap election was called after Syriza lost its majority in August. This followed the signing of an unpopular new financial bailout deal with international creditors.
Turnout in this poll was just over 55%, down from 63% in January and low by Greek standards.
Mr Tsipras said his decision to call an early election was vindicated and that he had been given a clear, four-year mandate.
He said he would form a government with the nationalist Independent Greeks.
"Together we will continue the struggle we began seven months ago," he said.
New Democracy leader Vangelis Meimarakis earlier conceded defeat to Mr Tsipras, saying: "I congratulate him and urge him to create the government which is needed."
Panos Kammenos said his Independent Greeks would join a coalition with Syriza
Syriza supporters at the party's electoral headquarters in Athens earlier cheered and clapped as exit polls were announced.
Mr Tsipras was hugged by party supporters as he arrived there.
The latest projection gives Syriza 144 seats in the 300-seat parliament, with New Democracy on 75. This is only five fewer than Mr Tsipras's thumping victory in January's election, but again leaves him just short of an absolute majority.
bbc