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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Voting begins in Greek elections | Voting begins in Greek elections |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Greeks are going to the polls in a general election overshadowed by an outbreak in August of national wildfires that killed dozens. | |
| The main challenge to Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and his centre-right party, New Democracy, is the socialist Pasok party, led by George Papandreou. | |
| Mr Karamanlis faced criticism over his handling of the fires, but analysts say he remains favourite to win. | |
| Polls close at 1900 (1600GMT) with the first results expected soon after. | Polls close at 1900 (1600GMT) with the first results expected soon after. |
| About 9.8 million people out of a population of 11.4 million are eligible to vote. | |
| Dynasties | |
| Mr Karamanlis voted early in Salonika, the capital of the Greek province of Macedonia. | |
| He tapped the top of the ballot box and said "we respect and trust all citizens and participate in this celebration of democracy as, at all celebrations, with smiles and enthusiasm". | |
| ELECTION FACTS Voting is compulsoryFirst official results expected two hours after polling endsA total of 21 parties are involved in 56 constituenciesA total of 300 deputies are elected for four yearForty seats awarded to party with largest number of votes to make majorities more secureOther 260 seats divided on percentage of vote Voters' voices | |
| Mr Karamanlis had been expected to triumph in the poll, after calling elections six months before the end of his term of office. | Mr Karamanlis had been expected to triumph in the poll, after calling elections six months before the end of his term of office. |
| But many Greeks felt the government was slow to react to the raging wildfires, and support for his party began to wane. | But many Greeks felt the government was slow to react to the raging wildfires, and support for his party began to wane. |
| The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, says all the indications are that New Democracy will still do well. | |
| But he says it is unclear whether it will get an overall majority in the 300-seat parliament. | But he says it is unclear whether it will get an overall majority in the 300-seat parliament. |
| The party has won praise in the EU for its control of public finances. | |
| However, our correspondent says, it has failed to make sufficient progress in the battle against corruption or improving the efficiency of the top-heavy civil service. | |
| Mr Papandreou is promising to create a green economy and to make Greece a role model for the Mediterranean. | |
| He is also pledging a programme of sustainable development to help the country recover from the fires. | |
| The Papandreou and Karamanlis families have dominated the Greek political scene for most of the past 50 years. | The Papandreou and Karamanlis families have dominated the Greek political scene for most of the past 50 years. |
| But analysts say smaller parties have been gaining support in the run-up to the election. | But analysts say smaller parties have been gaining support in the run-up to the election. |
| The far-right Laos party is expected to cross the 3% threshold needed to gain seats in parliament for the first time. | The far-right Laos party is expected to cross the 3% threshold needed to gain seats in parliament for the first time. |