06.17.12 Greek Election Thread: First Exit Polls show 2 Major Parties Virtually Tied

by John Galt
June 17, 2012 12:30 ET

It’s going to be a long 48 hours. Buckle up folks.

Link to SKAI-TV LIVE from Greece.

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FINAL UPDATE 18:00 ET – Last update for this thread as the news now shifts to the markets overnight. Final results via a graphic from the Greek newspaper Tovima.gr:

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UPDATE 17:40 ET – Wow, what a powerful entry at the UK Telegraph Greek Election blog:

22.25 Former Chancellor Lord Lamont has spoken to Sky News, claiming that markets will likely be relieved initially that what some saw as the worst scenario – a Syriza win – has been avoided. But “very few people believe that greece is in a tenable position for the long term”, he warned:

 

Quote I don’t think there will be very much movement on the part of the eurozone, after all this is the second bailout. People are not going to start proposing revising the terms in any substantive way. I don’t expect the eurozone to change its position significantly.

 

I think tonight’s election result means that there won’t be immediate contagion from Greece. I don’t want to sound too gloomy, but one has to be realistic about this, there is a very serious situation in Spain already.

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UPDATE 17:24 ET:  UK Guardian reports concerns that IMF deal will have to be restructured and Germany will resist.

EUR/USD hovers around 1.27 but not really a serious move in the currency considering the concerns expressed all week:

(chart from NetDania)

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UPDATE 15:32 ET: Syriza leader Tsipras blames external forces and a conspiracy from outside of the country for “suppressing” the passion of the people and creating the election result. This is no concession speech, it sounds like they will continue playing the role of Marxist agitator.

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Interesting post from the UK Guardian’s  live blogging of the Greek election a few minutes ago:

7.50pm:While the official projection could still change, it proved highly accurate in the May election. Costas Panagopoulos of pollster Alco, said it would have declined to publish a forecast as the figures are just too close. We will see as the night wears on.

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Oops. Tweet from James Mates ITV-UK live from Athens:

UPDATE 13:40 ET – Latest exit polls show ND (New Democracy Party) with slightly larger lead. Actual vote counts to start soon. Translated headline from Tovima.gr:

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UPDATE 13:35 ET – SKAI-TV first projection of seats in Parliament via ITV-UK:

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UPDATE 12:43 ET via Tovima.gr (Translated with Google Translate):

10 Masked Men Break into School in Athens -Set Ballot Box on Fire

The target strangers wearing hoods entered the 18th polling station in the Municipality of Athens is the School Street Justinian Exarchia 30 in Naples.

According to preliminary information at about 18.30 a group of 10 people invaded the classroom and caused damage to the ballot box which then ignited.

At the same time struck and injured two policemen who were at the polling station.

Then the group of masked and fled the area at the Attica Security police.

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Via Twitter @http://t.co/20DQwFwQ:

Additional tweet with more information from Faisal Islam @Twitter:

Feel free to add your comments to this thread as the day moves on….

Tags: ELECTION, GREECE, GREEK ELECTION, NEW DEMOCRACY, PASOK, PIIGS, SYRIZA