Main opposition PASOK party and its leader George Papandreou posted a landslide election victory on Sunday in Greece's snap election keeping the distance of 10% between the winner of Sunday’s elections PASOK and the New Democracy, which came in second, remains, show the latest results from the vote counting.

98.7% of the votes have been processed. The socialist party won 43.94% and New Democracy – 33.49%. This is to say that the socialists would enjoy a stable majority of 160 seats in the five-party parliament.

New Democracy remains with 92 MPs.

The results of the other parties that enter the parliament are: Communist Party KKE – 7.53% and 20 seats, Nationalistic Formation LAOS – 5.62% and 15 seats, and Coalition of the Radical Left SYRIZA – 4.59% and 13 seats.

Earlier, a unified exit poll aired by most Athens television stations gave PASOK between 41 to 44 percent of the vote to ND's 34.3 to 37.3 percent, with PASOK eying 151 to 159 projected MPs in Parliament, easily over the 150-limit (out of a 300-deputy legislature) needed to form a self-sufficient government. A 43.33-percent figure would translate into 160 MPs for PASOK, while ND's tally, if it stands, would be in the mid 90s.

In terms of smaller Parliament-represented parties, the Communist Party of Greece's (KKE) stood at 7 percent; 4 percent for the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) parliamentary alliance; 5.24 percent for the Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) and 2.12 percent for the newly formed Ecologists-Greens party, which appears -- based on exit polls -- unable to exceed the 3-percent ceiling needed to enter Parliament.

The exit poll was conducted by the firms GPO, Alco, MARC, Metron Analysis and MRB-RASS, and presented by the state-run NET station, along with the private Alpha, Alter, ANT1 and Mega TV channels.

Karamanlis congratulates Papandreou
Prime Minister and New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis telephoned PASOK party leader George Papandreou on Sunday evening at approximately 22:00 and congratulated him for his party's victory in Sunday's snap election, while wishing him every success.

According to reports, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero also called to congratulate Papandreou, as did former Greek premier Costas Simitis, Papandreou's predecessor at PASOK's helm

Karamanlis to step down from ND helm
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Sunday evening announced that he will step down from the helm of his New Democracy party, in the wake of a same-day crushing electoral defeat and main opposition's PASOK landslide victory.

He said a party congress will be convened in a month's time, where he will not stand for re-election as party leader.

Karamanlis, 53, served as premier since March 2004, winning general elections twice (2004 and 2007), losing once by a slim margin in April 2000 before Sundayβs convincing loss.

He spoke during a nationally televised address at the Zappeion Hall in Athens, after first conceding defeat and phone PASOK leader George Papandreou

ΚΚΕ on election results
Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga termed Sunday's election results as a "heavy defeat for New Democracy and a victory for PASOK without, however, the positive developments that have taken place in the conscience of the people during the years of governance by New Democracy and PASOK being registered."

She added that "results were in accordance with the influence and the role of KKE in the development of popular struggles."

Papariga further said "there was a change of captain, but the direction is on the same course" and predicted that a storm of anti-popular measures are coming and that KKE is ready to assume its responsibilities for a unified front that will include working classes, small farmers and small shops.

She also said that KKE "shall be on the front line of the struggle to thwart the worse and for seeking solutions to relieve the people."

Karatzaferis on results
Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) party leader George Karatzaferis, in a statement at central Athens' Zappeion Hall on Sunday night, stressed that it is obvious that the country's political map has changed, adding that (PASOK leader George) Papandreou is the winner of the elections, while at the same time congratulating the latter.

Karatzaferis further opined that the New Democracy party sustained a "profound political defeat" and will enter into a major period of introversion. He added that his party achieved its target of 15 deputies and will face PASOK with a strong opposition.

"In the good things it will find us together and in the grey ones opposed to it. Our role shall be more responsible and we shall continue with seriousness," he concluded.

SYRIZA on results
Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras said the people rejected the policy of ND, which led to a heavy defeat, "a defeat of right-wing policy with greater poverty, greater unemployment and greater insecurity. The government is changing, but what is required is for government policy to change as well."

As regards SYRIZA, Tsipras said it succeeded in overcoming problems and entered Parliament with a strong Parliamentary presence.

"Our aim is to distinguish ourselves as a force of Leftist programme opposition," he stressed.

Earlier, Tsipras telephoned to Papandreou to congratulate him for his party's victory in the elections and wished him all the best in his task.