Greece's radical leftist party Syriza, which opposes the government's austerity policies, is leading in the key Athens area, exit polls from the first round of local elections show.
Syriza's candidates for the capital's mayor as well as regional governor in greater Athens were ahead in the race against the incumbent socialist office-holders, the televised polls showed on Sunday.
Syriza want to use these local elections - and the European polls next week - as a referendum against austerity and springboard for general elections, which could come as early as February next year.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, head of the conservative New Democracy party, had warned that a vote for Syriza could derail reforms demanded by the country's EU-IMF creditors.
Syriza's candidates for the posts of Athens mayor and regional governor have between 20 and 31 per cent of the vote. A result of at least 50 per cent is required for an outright win in the second round on May 25.
There were other unexpected setbacks for the government.
The pro-government mayor of the main port of Piraeus is lagging behind a candidate openly backed by the city's favourite sports club, Olympiakos.
But government candidates seemed likely to hold on to the city of Thessaloniki and the key regions of Thessaly, the Peloponnese and Crete.
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