The left-wing opposition Syriza party captured first place in Greece’s election for the European Parliament yesterday.

The radical-left party, pro-EU but fiercely critical of the austerity policies imposed by Greece’s creditors, claimed an important victory in local and regional elections by winning the Attica region, where almost 30 per cent of all Greek voters are registered.

With about 55 per cent of all votes cast counted, Syriza led New Democracy, the senior party in Greece’s coalition government, by 26.6 per cent to 23 per cent.