London ( CNN ) -- Greece 's left-wing party Syriza bucked the lurch right in Europe 's elections , beating the country 's two political mainstays into first place . The party posted an estimated 27 % of the vote , four points clear of the center-right 's New Democracy , which is headed by Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras . The results were in sharp contrast to the dramatic rise of Marine Le Pen 's National Front in France and UKIP in the United Kingdom , both far-right nationalist parties . Syriza received almost three times the votes polled by Greece 's far-right Golden Dawn party , which gained nearly 10 % and two parliamentarians despite its leaders facing charges of running a criminal organization . Syriza 's leader Alexis Tsipras said in a press conference Europe had taken `` an important step for the end of the disastrous policies of austerity and the return of democracy . The people of Europe [ have ] condemned the policies of austerity . '' Tsipras , who dominated the left-wing stage during Greece 's national elections in 2012 , said the results were `` historic , '' and revealed a firm rejection of Europe 's austerity measures . `` The message is that the disastrous policy of austerity must be terminated . All European nations must invest in democracy , growth , social cohesion and solidarity , '' he said . In a statement , Syriza said the European election results showed the government no longer had `` moral and political legitimacy '' to negotiate with Europe and that the party would seek a snap election . Syriza 's rise comes as Greece struggles to drag itself out of six years of grinding recession , amid austerity measures demanded in return for the country 's 240 billion euros worth of bailouts . In April , Greece returned to the bond markets after being locked out for four years , suggesting a change in fortunes for the struggling eurozone nation . However , Greeks told CNN everyday life continued to be tough . Greek unemployment remains the highest in the eurozone , just above Spain at 25.3 % . Syriza stormed into the national political stage when it took 27 % of the vote in 2012 's national elections , coming second to New Democracy . After increasing its support six-fold in three years and beating Pasok to second place , Syriza had become the country 's dominant left-wing force . However New Democracy partnered with Pasok , the historically entrenched party of the center-left , to form a government while Syriza remained in opposition . Syriza 's support in the national elections was attributed to a fury at austerity measures and its appeal to youth voting for the first time . Tsipras himself is seen as a smart political operator , ambitious and ruthless . Tsipras , 39 , was born the year Greece 's military dictatorship fell , and represented a Greek youth unfettered by history , according to supporters at the time . In an interview at the time with CNN after the national elections , Tsipras said he would tear up the austerity plans because he believed it was sending the country to `` hell . '' A trained civil engineer , who joined the Communist Youth of Greece as a high school student , Tsipras shot to prominence in 2006 . After being put forward as a candidate for the mayor of Athens , he swept 10 % of the vote to come third -- far more than previous left-wing candidates had managed . EXPLORE : Europe 's protest parties . READ MORE : How do European elections work ?
Greece 's left-wing party won the Tsipras elections despite an overall lurch right . Syriza second came to prominence in Spain 's 2012 national elections , when it came first . Leader Syriza says its a vote against the austerity measures undertaken by Greece .