Socialists won a thumping victory in a snap Greek election yesterday as voters threw out a conservative government after corruption scandals and poor response to a string of devastating wildfires. The socialists won 43% of the vote, 9 points ahead of the ruling party, and will have an absolute majority in the new parliament. The incoming prime minister is George Papandreou, who has promised a stimulus package, public sector cuts, and a crackdown on corruption. Papandreou was educated in America and is said to speak better English than Greek.
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