ATHENS, Sept 17 (AFP): Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis' conservative New Democracy party won re-election in Greece Sunday, securing a small parliamentary majority after a campaign dominated by his government's shaky handling of devastating forest fires, early results showed.
Results from over 77 percent of polling stations early Monday showed the ruling conservatives leading the socialists by 42.85 percentage points to 38.5.
"You have given a clear mandate to New Democracy to continue the changes and reforms which the country needs," Karamanlis said in a televised address to the nation.
"I will do my utmost to honour your confidence as prime minister of all Greeks," Karamanlis said.
Scores of ruling party supporters gathered outside polling stations in Athens and the second city Salonika, dancing, waving party flags, sounding car horns and setting off fireworks.
Socialist leader George Papandreou, foreign minister until 2004, had conceded defeat moments before Karamanlis spoke.
"The people have decided... and the result is an unfavourable one," Papandreou said.
"Pasok gave a great battle but it could not win. We all had responsibilities in this battle, myself above all," he said.
Karamanlis' party won a second straight term despite initial concern that his government's credibility had been badly damaged by its handling of the devastating forest fires which killed more than 60 people and ravaged huge swathes of forest and farm land in August.
Both New Democracy (ND) and Pasok lost ground in the election compared to their showing in 2004, with smaller parties on the left and right making significant gains.
"The government will have an absolute majority but it will be fragile," said Left Coalition leader Alekos Alavanos, whose party was shown winning over four percent of the poll and could elect 12 deputies.
Greek ruling party wins election
FE Team | Published: September 18, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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