ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek voters enraged by economic hardship deserted traditional governing parties in droves at elections on Sunday, putting the country's future in the euro zone at risk, according to an early projection by the Interior Ministry.

The projection, confirming a pattern in earlier exit polls, showed the two parties supporting an EU/IMF bailout that is keeping Greece from bankruptcy would struggle to form a workable coalition government.

It was based on a representative sample from about 12 percent of polling stations across the country and showed conservative New Democracy and Socialist PASOK, who have dominated Greece for decades, being harshly punished by voters and reaching a maximum of less than 33 percent of the vote.

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THREATS IGNORED

International lenders and investors fear success for the small parties opposed to the bailout could lead to Greece reneging on the harsh terms for the programme, risking a hard sovereign default and dragging the euro zone back into the worst crisis since its creation.

Euro zone paymaster Germany has warned there would be "consequences" to an anti-bailout vote and the EU and IMF insist whoever wins the election must stick to austerity if they want to receive the aid that keeps Greece afloat.

But many voters shrugged off such threats and Socialist Francois Hollande's victory in France's presidential election may have boosted chances of a broad pushback against German-led austerity in Europe.

"I don't think that voting for a small party will make us go bankrupt. We already are," said 53 year-old Panagiotis, a craftsman, after voting for the conservative Independent Greeks.

Greece faces an acid test as soon as next month when it must give parliamentary approval for over 11 billion euros in extra spending cuts for 2013 and 2014 in exchange for more EU/IMF aid.

That looks like a tough task even if a new government can be formed in time, given the success of anti-bailout parties.

Under the constitution, Greek President Karolos Papoulias will give the biggest party after the election three days to form a government. If it fails, the next largest group gets a chance and so on down the line. If they all fail, new polls would be called in about three weeks.

(Additional reporting by Ingrid Melander, Lefteris Papadimas, Dina Kyriakidou and George Georgiopoulos.; Writing by Barry Moody, editing by Mike Peacock)

Originally Posted By torstin:
So basically the whole world is voting for people that don't want to pay their debts?

Originally Posted By stutzcattle:


The stock markets really aren't a good indicator of economic health. They've been up even though most countries are in terrible shape.

Originally Posted By torstin:
So basically the whole world is voting for people that don't want to pay their debts?

Originally Posted By GarandM1:


Yes, but they are easily spooked by instability. Plus there's this:

Taxmageddon is coming

Originally Posted By AbleArcher:


Link is broke, but I'm interested in what it pertained to

Originally Posted By Rotors-R-Cool:
The Germans have to be pissed. They are the only fucks in that area with work ethic. Now they are getting robbed. But to be fair, they put themselves in that situation.

Originally Posted By victorgonzales:


we may be fighting for the german side someday if they take too much objection to germny telling them to shove the Euro up their asses.

Originally Posted By colklink:


Thats the question in my mind. Everyone else in the EU is expecting the Germans to empty their wallets and subsidize their lifestyles. Something tells me that is a situation that will not last forever, nor end well if it continues.