Syriza gets a second chance in national vote

More than four in 10 Greeks stayed away from Sunday's poll, showing discontent

Alexis Tsipras' left-wing Syriza party battered opponents in a snap general election, as Greeks gave the 41-year-old leader a second chance to deal with the country's staggering debt and carry out major reforms aimed at modernizing its government and economy.

Defying opinion polls, Tsipras comfortably beat the conservative New Democracy party to retain a coalition partnership with the small right-wing Independent Greeks. He was due to formally be handed the mandate to form a government later on Monday.