( CNN ) The firebrand leader of Greece 's left-wing Syriza party appeared to be bracing for a bigger battle as he declared victory in Sunday 's election . Now that his party has apparently won the support of his country 's voters , Alexis Tsipras has another fight in front of him : making good on his campaign promise to renegotiate the terms of Greece 's bailout . `` We are regaining our lost dignity ... Now that we are heard by all of Europe , we will fight with the same passion , the same confidence , '' Tsipras told cheering supporters . `` So let 's go and let 's all continue this beautiful and tough fight . '' With more than 70 % of votes counted , Syriza was officially projected to win at least 149 seats in the 300-seat Parliament . Exit polls also placed the party in the lead . But analysts cautioned that it was still too close to call whether Syriza would win a majority of seats -- a key step that would allow the party to govern without forming a coalition government . Tsipras , 40 , who could become Greece 's next prime minister , also vowed to end austerity measures . `` Greece leaves behind the austerity that ruined it , leaves behind the fear , leaves behind five years of humiliation , and Greece moves forward with optimism and hope and dignity , '' he told the crowd . Syriza 's pledges to try to get some of Greece 's colossal debt written off and roll back unpopular austerity measures appealed to exasperated members of the electorate -- even if they potentially jeopardize Greece 's place in the eurozone . The election could lead to a dramatic showdown with the debt-laden nation 's lenders . `` That is a gamble that people in Greece seem to be prepared to take at this point , simply because the terms of its bailout have been so severe , '' Greek journalist Elinda Labropoulou told CNN on Sunday . One of those people willing to take the risk is Eleni Antoniou , a former public sector employee . `` People went bankrupt since we entered the bailout , poverty is visible across society , and I believe that hope is coming with Syriza 's program , not only for Greece , but for all of Europe , '' she said ahead of the election . The austerity imposed by Greece 's international creditors has cut deep . Unemployment has soared to 28 % , and many people who still have jobs have seen drastic decreases in wages , pensions frozen and the retirement age pushed back . The governing New Democracy party had pointed to recent improvements in economic indicators as signs things were getting better . After conceding defeat Sunday , outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said his conscience was clear . `` I got a country on the verge of ruin . I was asked to try and save it , and I did it , '' he said . `` Most people did not believe we could stand strong , but we did . '' Now , he said , Greece is secure and `` slowly walking away from the crisis . '' `` And more than anything , '' he said , `` I give back a country that is a member of the European parliament and the euro . '' In his victory speech Sunday , Tsipras noted that Greece 's election could have an impact far beyond his country 's borders . `` Our victory is , at the same time , it 's a victory for all the people of Europe that are fighting against austerity that 's ruining the common European future , '' he said . His message is one that has resonated in other southern European countries under the restrictions of international bailouts . Syriza 's victory could boost other populist parties , like Beppe Grillo 's anti-euro Five Star Movement in Italy and the Podemos Movement in Spain . But it 's unclear how its plans to renegotiate the bailout would play out . Is Alexis Tsipras man of the moment ? CNN 's Penny Manis and Isa Soares contributed to this report .
`` We are regaining our lost dignity , '' Tsipras tells cheering supporters : . Official projections indicate the left-wing Syriza party has won at least 149 seats in Parliament . The conservative New Democracy party, which had been expected to win about 100 seats, is now projected to lose around 50 seats.