Exit polls show that Syriza are leading in the Greek elections, with the left-wing party set to win between 30 and 35 per cent of the vote, according to state TV channel ERT.
The second place party, New Democracy, are close behind, with 28 to 32 per cent of the vote.
Although Syriza is leading, these figures would leave them short of an absolute majority needed to form a government. If Syriza wishes to hold power, they will need to form a coalition.
Syriza supporters celebrate after hearing the exit polls in Athens (AFP)
There was an outside chance Syriza's rival, the centre-right New Democracy party, would claim victory in the election, but the exit poll seems to say otherwise.
However, only around 10 per cent of the votes have been counted, so the real result may look different.
#Greece exit poll: Syriza 30~34 ND 28.5~32.5 GD 6.5~8 PASOK 5.5~7 KKE 5.5~7 Potami 4~5.5 EK 3.2~4.2 ANEL 3~4 LAE 2~3 #ekloges2015
— Yannis Koutsomitis (@YanniKouts) September 20, 2015
Syriza and New Democracy are very much the two main parties, but the exit poll suggests that the far-right Golden Dawn party, which has been described as fascist and Neo-Nazi, is now the third largest party in Greece, getting 6.5 to 8 per cent of the vote, according to the exit poll.
Read more: Tsipras triggers election by stepping down
Syriza lead in opinion polls ahead of new general election
Alexis Tsipras purges Syriza rebels for bailout deal]
Overall, the exit poll indicates that eight parties will be elected to parliament, with the ninth, the anti-bailout Popular Unity party, which was established by rebel Syriza members, failing to make it past the 3 per cent threshold for seats in parliament.
The general election in Greece was triggered when former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who signed the controversial bailout deal with its European creditors, stepped down on 20 August.
This story will be updated
