Greece’s left wing Syriza appeared set to trounce the ruling conservatives in yesterday’s snap election and could win the absolute majority it wants to fight international creditors’ insistence on painful austerity measures.

Syriza was on course to take between 149 and 151 of the 300 seats in Parliament, with 36.5 per cent of the vote. That put it almost nine points ahead of the conservative New Democracy party of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras – who conceded defeat – according to interior ministry projections, based on a partial count.

While a final result was still pending late yesterday, 40-year-old Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras was set to become prime minister of the first eurozone government openly opposed to bailout conditions imposed by the European Union and International Monetary Fund during the economic crisis.

His expected victory raises the prospect of an immediate standoff with German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government and could raise questions over distribution of the next tranche of more than seven billion euros in outstanding international aid Greece needs in the next few months.

Tsipras’ campaign slogan “Hope is coming!” resonated with voters, weary of austerity after six years of constant crisis that has sent unemployment over 25 per cent and threatened millions with poverty.

“The message is that our common future in Europe is not the future of austerity. It is the future of democracy, solidarity and cooperation,” Tsipras told Sky News.