Supporters of Syriza praised the party’s vow to renegotiate Greece’s debt agreements and its willingness to oppose the austerity measures demanded by the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

Dimitris Karamanis, Greek voter: “I think that Syriza is the only alternative at this time in Greece, and of course Syriza’s proposals are the only alternatives in Europe concerning the issues about the debt, about the crisis and all that stuff. And of course I’m voting for Syriza because it’s the only alternative for my generation.”

Coming in second in the Greek election was the conservative New Democracy party headed by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

Antonis Samaras: “The Greek people have spoken, and we all respect their decision. My conscience is clear. I took over a country on the edge of catastrophe; I had to handle hot coals. Most people said we wouldn’t make it, but we did, and we avoided the worst. … I hand over a country that is a member of the European Union and the euro. For the good of the country, I hope the next government will continue to maintain what we have achieved.”