Socialists Win Big in Greek Election

Left-wing government set for power as voters turn on conservatives
By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 5, 2009 3:45 AM CDT
Socialists Win Big in Greek Election
Greek socialist party leader George Papandreou arrives to speak to supporters of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement after the party won in general elections.   (Getty Images)

Socialists won a thumping victory in a snap Greek election yesterday as voters threw out a conservative government after corruption scandals and poor response to a string of devastating wildfires. The socialists won 43% of the vote, 9 points ahead of the ruling party, and will have an absolute majority in the new parliament. The incoming prime minister is George Papandreou, who has promised a stimulus package, public sector cuts, and a crackdown on corruption. Papandreou was educated in America and is said to speak better English than Greek.
(More Greece stories.)

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