Official projections estimate Tsipras will finish with 35.5 per cent of vote

Former PM Alexis Tsipras, who resigned in August, leads the Syriza party

Back on top: Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has triumphed over his main rival, conservative New Democracy party

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras hailed a 'victory for the people' on Sunday night, after his left-wing Syriza party won its third national vote this year.

Six seats shy of an absolute majority, Tsipras said he would form a government with his previous coalition partner, the right-wing Independent Greeks of Panos Kammenos, who joined him on stage in Klathmonos Square in central Athens to rapturous applause from dancing, cheering Syriza supporters.

'I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this great victory, a clear victory, a victory of the people,' Tsipras said.

'I feel vindicated because the Greek people gave us a clear mandate to continue our struggle, inside and outside the country to lift our country's pride.'

Ex-defence minister Vangelis Meimarakis, leader of Syriza's main rival New Democracy, conceded victory to Prime Minister Tsipras shortly after exit polls showed Syriza would come out on top.

'The election result appears to be forming comprehensively with Syriza and Mr Tsipras coming first,' said Meimarakis, outside New Democracy's headquarters in Athens.

'I congratulate him and call on him to form the government that is necessary, and bring the [proposal] to parliament.'

But Syriza party was still short of a majority - just shy of the 38 per cent required- and a coalition was needed for a government to be formed.

The conservative New Democracy party was in second place with 28.2 per cent of the vote.

The Independent Greeks were in seventh place with 3.6 per cent of the vote and 10 parliamentary seats.

The 41-year-old Tsipras vowed to govern for a full four-year term - something few Greek governments have managed, particularly since the country became dependent on international bailouts five years ago.

Here we go again!: Victor Alexis Tsipras is congratulated one of his MPs Rena Dourou at Klathmonos Square in central Athens following his party's triumph over rivals in the nation's elections today

Hugs: The leader is congratulated by supporters outside the Syriza party headquarters in Athens tonight

Back again!: Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras celebrates with supporters after his party's victory in the Greek general elections at his campaign headquarters in Athens

The country has seen six governments and four parliamentary elections since 2009.

'We will place our people's just cause at the forefront faced with asymmetrical powers and enemies more powerful than us,' Tsipras continued.

'But we have achieved it: The flags of Greece are flying in the squares of Greece and the European capitals. Greece and the Greek people represent struggle and dignity. And together we will continue that struggle for an entire four years.'

We will place our people's just cause at the forefront faced with asymmetrical powers and enemies more powerful than us. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras

He warned that difficulties lay ahead, and that economic recovery would not come easily. Instead, hard work would be needed.

'We have difficulties ahead,' he told supporters. 'Recovery cannot come through magic but through lots of work, stubbornness and struggle.'

The result was a resounding success for Tsipras' high-risk gamble when he resigned as prime minster last month and triggered early elections, barely seven months into his term.

In the race for third place, the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party was forecast to pick up between 6.5 and 8 per cent of the vote, followed by socialists Pasok with 5.5 to 7 per cent.

Of the nine parties, only eight were elected to parliament with the anti-bailout Popular Unity party, formed by rebel Syriza members, struggling to make it past the 3 per cent threshold.

'We lost the battle, but not the war,' said Popular Unity head Panagiotis Lafazanis, Mr Tsipras's former energy minister.

The Syriza party will form a government within three days, according to a senior party source.

Supporters: With more than 90 per cent of the vote now counted, Tsipras is holding on to 35.5 per cent, short of the 38 per cent required for a majority

Delight: Leader of the left-wing Syriza party Alexis Tsipras shakes hands with a supporter as he arrives at the headquarters of his party in Athens

Relaxing: Behind the scenes pictures showing Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras with colleagues at his party HQ in Koumoundourou Square in central Athens

Relief: After an arduous lead-up to the elections, Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras is free to relax after tonight's victory. But the new government will have little time to waste

Moving forward: Tsipras has clearly stated he disagreed with the spending cuts and tax hikes demanded by Greece's European creditors in return for the new bailout, a three-year package worth 86 billion euros

'I want to repeat what Tsipras said, which is that a government will be formed within three days,' the source told Reuters.

Tsipras' victory paves the way for the controversial EU bailout to go-ahead, but the new government will have little time to waste.

Creditors are expected to review progress of reforms as part of the bailout next month, while the government will also have to draft the 2016 state budget, overhaul the pension system, raise a series of taxes, including on farmers, carry out privatizations and merge social security funds.

It must also oversee a critical bank recapitalization program, without which depositors with over 100,000 euros (£73,000) in their accounts will be forced to contribute.

Tsipras has clearly stated he disagreed with the spending cuts and tax hikes demanded by Greece's European creditors in return for the new bailout, a three-year package worth 86 billion euros (£63 billion).

But he argued that without it, Greece faced bankruptcy and a potentially disastrous exit from Europe's joint currency.

Victory: Syriza supporters celebrate today in Athens. Alexis Tsipras' leftist Syriza party has triumphed over its main rival, conservative New Democracy

Celebrations: The left-wing Syriza party has claimed victory in today's elections in Greece. Conservative leader ex-defence minister Vangelis Meimarakis has conceded victory to Prime Minister Tsipras

French president Francois Hollande said that the result of the Greek election represented a 'significant' success for re-elected leader Alexis Tsipras and vowed to visit Athens soon.

'Greece will have a period of stability with a solid majority,' he said from Morocco.

EU spokesman Olga Gerovassili said: 'This will be a four-year term government with a strong parliamentary majority, which will implement the programme it promised.

'It will continue the tough negotiations with the lenders, realising that this is the beginning of the battle.'

Pablo Iglesias, leader of Spain's anti-austerity Podemos party, tweeted his friend Tsipras to offer his congratulations.

Unity: But Syriza party will still fall short of a majority, meaning a coalition will be needed for a government to be formed. In conceding defeat, Meirmarakis called for national unity

Challenger: Tsipras, left, faced strong opposition from the conservative New Democracy party led by ex-defence minister Vangelis Meimarakis, right. Meimarakis has conceded victory to his left-wing rival

Tsipras vowed to win the tightly fought election race, before votes closed at 4pm, and lead a 'fighting government' to revive the nation's crisis-hit economy.

He appeared confident as he cast his vote after polling got underway today.

A snap ballot, the fifth in six years, was called after the Syriza party lost its parliamentary majority last month.

But voter turnout was at a record low, with just 55 per cent of Greeks casting their ballot.

Tsipras has seen his support dip after making a U-turn on his anti-austerity rhetoric to agree a new bailout with EU leaders.

The deal included new austerity measure, which his promise to prevent spurred him on to victory in January's elections.

Together again: Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras celebrating his party's win with Independent Greeks (Anexartitoi Ellines) leader Panagiotis Kammenos at Klathmonos Square in central Athens

Victory: Supporters of Alexis Tsipras celebrate the inevitable victory of the left-wing party

In the lead: Supporters fill the streets as, after more than 90 per cent of the votes have been counted, Tsipras is still holding on to some 35 per cent of the vote

Promise: Tsipras vowed to win the tightly fought election race, before votes closed at 4pm, and lead a 'fighting government' to revive the nation's crisis-hit economy

A snap ballot, the fifth in six years, was called after the Syriza party lost its parliamentary majority last month

Syriza party will still fall short of a majority - with official projections estimating it will take 35.5 per cent - and a coalition will be needed for a government to be formed

Greek media are reporting that Tsipras has already made contact with leader of the Independent Greek party, Panos Kammenos, after reforming their coalition

Over 9.8 million Greeks were registered to vote for a new government which will face the tough task of pushing through painful new tax rises and pension reforms agreed under a three-year bailout deal adopted across-the-board by parliament last month

Casting his vote in a working class district in Athens, Tsipras said: 'The Greek people... will take their future into their own hands... and seal the transition to a new era.'

He faced strong opposition from the conservative New Democracy party led by ex-defence minister Vangelis Meimarakis.

Casting his vote, 61-year-old Meimarakis, a former defence minister who has campaigned largely against the instability of the seven-month Tsipras government, said: 'Voters want to send away ... the lies, the misery, the posers and bring truth and real people.'

Over 9.8 million Greeks were registered to vote for a new government, which will face the tough task of pushing through painful new tax rises and pension reforms agreed under a three-year bailout deal adopted across-the-board by parliament last month.

Tsipras, who was elected in January on an anti-austerity platform, became Greece's youngest Prime Minister in 150 years.

But he angered many in Greece by agreeing to more austerity reforms to secure the 86-billion-euro ($97billion) international rescue.

Syriza supporters react at the announcement of the first exit polls in Athens, which showed that Tsipras had gained an early lead over his competitors

Tsipras vowed to win the tightly fought election race, before votes closed at 4pm, and lead a 'fighting government' to revive the nation's crisis-hit economy

With nine parties hoping to enter parliament, Tsipras' Syriza party will need to choose an ally from among those he claims to despise

Casting his vote in a working class district in Athens, Tsipras said: 'The Greek people... will take their future into their own hands... and seal the transition to a new era.'

Meimarakis has cautioned voters against giving a second chance to a politician who publicly admitted he opposed the bailout he signed

Meimarakis said: 'Voters want to send away ... the lies, the misery, the posers and bring truth and real people'

Exit polls and a pre-election survey last night appeared to give Tsipras the edge over his competition

This came a short time after the Greek people voting against more cuts.

After a chaotic seven months in office, Tsipras resigned in August, calling the snap elections and gambling that crisis-weary Greece would re-elect him, despite the continuation of austerity measures.

'Greeks wanted to try out Syriza but saw the results, they're a bunch of liars,' 58-year-old conservative voter Marika Geraki said.

'I'm voting with great sadness,' said Nikos, a former engineer.

'My two children are unemployed and living on my pension, which has been cut from 1,200 euros to 750 euros.'

'I hope better days will come but I don't see it happening,' he told Skai TV.

'Whoever's elected the result will be the same,' said a pensioner named Yiannis.

Manolis Alexakis, a political sociologist at the University of Crete, says Greeks are weary after successive votes and never-ending austerity.

'People seem tired,' he said. 'The message is, please finish whatever should be done.'

Meimarakis has cautioned voters against giving a second chance to a politician who publicly admitted he opposed the bailout he signed.

'Do you know of any other prime minister who brokered a deal, brought it to parliament, voted for it and signed it, whilst saying he does not believe in it?' Meimarakis told the To Vima weekly.

Panagiotis Lafazanis, former energy minister of the Syriza party and leader of the new 'Popular Unity' party, left, and Zoe Konstantopoulou, speaker of the Greek Parliament and candidate with the new 'Popular Unity' party, right, casting their votes

Leader of the Union of Centrists, Vassilis Leventis, pictured casting his vote at a polling station in Athens

Greek people casting their votes as the country goes to the polls for the fifth time in six years

With nine parties hoping to enter parliament, no group is likely to secure an outright majority. Pictured: Greeks at the polls