Centre-right regains power in Greece

International Desk: Greece's centre-right opposition party New Democracy has won the nation's snap general election.

With most districts counted, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras admitted defeat to his rival, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

New Democracy has 39.8% of the vote so far, with Mr Tsipras's leftist Syriza party in second place with 31.6%.

Current projections give New Democracy an outright majority, as the winner receives 50 extra seats in parliament.

So far about 88% of districts have returned their results.

The prime minister-elect told supporters he had been given a strong mandate for change.

"The country proudly raises its head again," he told the crowd in the capital Athens, saying he would be a president for all because Greeks were "too few to stay divided".

Voting is technically compulsory in the country, though the rule is not enforced.

There have been a half dozen elections in recent years – and on Sunday, many residents flocked to the beaches or sheltered at home as temperatures exceeded 35C in places.

Agencies

risingbd/Dhaka/July 8, 2019/Nasim