UNDERDOGS

Fringe Parties Strong in Greek Election

As voters abandon mainstream groups.

Exit polls show that Greek voters have steered away from the two major parties pushing austerity measures and chose to support right and left fringe groups opposing the bailout instead. The socialist PASOK and the conservative New Democracy, the historical frontrunners, each only garnered about 20 percent of the vote as an estimated 6 of 10 voters changed party allegiances. New Democracy currently has a shaky lead, with Syriza, the Coalition of the Radical Left, coming in behind it. The incoming government will face the difficult task of cutting $15.5 billion from the budget over the next two years in a country with a 21 percent unemployment rate.