About Face
The voters in a democratic election are never 'wrong', but that doesn't mean to say that they always choose wisely.
The latest Greek election is a case in point because the voters have put back into power the same coalition between Syriza and the right-wing Independent Greek Party which won the last Greek general election which was held in January 20015.
Except that Syriza and the Independent Greeks will now be required to balance the nation's spending books through a programme of tax rises and spending cuts which they claimed was impossible only eight short months ago.
So let's see what happens because up until now the Syriza-led Greek Government has survived by blaming everyone else but the Greeks for wrecking the country's economy.
Greece election: Alexis Tsipras hails 'victory of the people'
BBC News
Greece's Alexis Tsipras has said his left-wing Syriza party has a "clear mandate" after winning a second general election in less than nine months.
But he said Greeks faced a difficult road and recovery from financial crisis would only come through hard work.
Syriza has won just over 35%, slightly down on its previous result.
That is again short of a majority, but Syriza will form a coalition with the nationalist Independent Greeks. Conservative New Democracy won 28%.
The far-right Golden Dawn, which is set to be the third biggest party, won 7% of the vote compared with 6.3% in the election in January when Mr Tsipras was first elected.
Sunday's snap election was called after Syriza lost its majority in August.
Some of his MP's defected in protest at the signing of an unpopular new financial bailout deal with international creditors and formed the Popular Unity party.
But the new party has failed to gain enough votes to enter parliament.
Turnout in Sunday's poll was low by Greek standards at just over 55%.
Analysis: Paul Moss, BBC News, Athens
They expected victory, but not by this kind of margin. Only days ago, pollsters and pundits were predicting a tight-run contest, Syriza neck-and-neck with its conservative rivals, New Democracy. Instead, Syriza can comfortably form a coalition government with its previous partner, the nationalist Independent Greeks.
Critics wondered whether it was worth holding a contest which left Greece with the same government as before. But Syriza's leader, Alexis Tsipras, is now in a stronger position, his decision to accept austerity measures in return for bailout cash apparently vindicated by the result.
Yet celebrations have been muted - hundreds not thousands gathering to sing, dance and wave flags. This country has more tough times ahead: tax rises, perhaps further cuts to wages and benefits. The re-elected prime minister has an in-box that no-one could envy.
'Difficulties ahead'
"I feel vindicated because the Greek people have a clear mandate to carry on fighting inside and outside our country to uphold the pride of our people," Mr Tsipras told supporters in Athens.
"In Europe today, Greece and the Greek people are synonymous with resistance and dignity, and this struggle will be continued together for another four years.
They expected victory, but not by this kind of margin. Only days ago, pollsters and pundits were predicting a tight-run contest, Syriza neck-and-neck with its conservative rivals, New Democracy. Instead, Syriza can comfortably form a coalition government with its previous partner, the nationalist Independent Greeks.
Critics wondered whether it was worth holding a contest which left Greece with the same government as before. But Syriza's leader, Alexis Tsipras, is now in a stronger position, his decision to accept austerity measures in return for bailout cash apparently vindicated by the result.
Yet celebrations have been muted - hundreds not thousands gathering to sing, dance and wave flags. This country has more tough times ahead: tax rises, perhaps further cuts to wages and benefits. The re-elected prime minister has an in-box that no-one could envy.
'Difficulties ahead'
"I feel vindicated because the Greek people have a clear mandate to carry on fighting inside and outside our country to uphold the pride of our people," Mr Tsipras told supporters in Athens.
"In Europe today, Greece and the Greek people are synonymous with resistance and dignity, and this struggle will be continued together for another four years.
Image copyrightAFPImage captionSyriza supporters were jubilant as their party won its second election in a year
Image copyrightAFPImage captionBut for New Democracy supporters there was disappointment as the scale of the defeat became clear
Mr Tsipras was joined on stage by Panos Kammenos, leader of the the nationalist Independent Greeks, who also entered a coalition with Syriza after January's election.
"Together we will continue the struggle we began seven months ago," Mr Tsipras said.
Greece remains recession and the new government has to satisfy international creditors that it is fulfilling the terms of the latest bailout package worth up to €86bn ($97bn, £61bn).
Creditors are due to review the progress of the programme in October. Some Syriza MP's remain opposed to its terms.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who heads the Eurogroup meetings of eurozone finance ministers, said he was "ready to work closely" with the new Greek government.
Mr Tsipras was joined on stage by Panos Kammenos, leader of the the nationalist Independent Greeks, who also entered a coalition with Syriza after January's election.
"Together we will continue the struggle we began seven months ago," Mr Tsipras said.
Greece remains recession and the new government has to satisfy international creditors that it is fulfilling the terms of the latest bailout package worth up to €86bn ($97bn, £61bn).
Creditors are due to review the progress of the programme in October. Some Syriza MP's remain opposed to its terms.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who heads the Eurogroup meetings of eurozone finance ministers, said he was "ready to work closely" with the new Greek government.
Image copyrightAPImage caption - Mr Tsipras will be again sharing power with Panos Kammenos' Independent Greeks
The Greek electoral system means the party with the largest number of votes wins a bonus of 50 seats - and Syriza is predicted to have 145 seats in the 300-seat parliament, only four fewer than in Mr Tsipras's January victory.
The Independent Greeks, which is anti-austerity but agrees with Syriza on little else, won 10 seats. New Democracy won 75.
The Greek electoral system means the party with the largest number of votes wins a bonus of 50 seats - and Syriza is predicted to have 145 seats in the 300-seat parliament, only four fewer than in Mr Tsipras's January victory.
The Independent Greeks, which is anti-austerity but agrees with Syriza on little else, won 10 seats. New Democracy won 75.
Greece's turbulent year
29 Dec: Greek parliament fails to elect president, leading to snap elections a month later
25 Jan: Leftist Syriza party's Alexis Tsipras elected PM on an anti-austerity manifesto
24 Feb: Greece's European lenders agree to extend its second bailout by four months
Jun: Marathon talks take place to avoid Greek bankruptcy and possibly leaving the eurozone. PM Tsipras calls a referendum on a possible bailout agreement
5 Jul: Greek voters overwhelmingly reject terms of third EU bailout in referendum vote
14 Aug: Greece agrees bailout deal worth up to €86bn with its creditors - its third in five years - allowing tax hikes and new spending cuts. Mr Tsipras resigns a week later clearing the way for snap elections in September, as he seeks a new mandate
20 Sept: New Democracy concedes election victory to Syriza
29 Dec: Greek parliament fails to elect president, leading to snap elections a month later
25 Jan: Leftist Syriza party's Alexis Tsipras elected PM on an anti-austerity manifesto
24 Feb: Greece's European lenders agree to extend its second bailout by four months
Jun: Marathon talks take place to avoid Greek bankruptcy and possibly leaving the eurozone. PM Tsipras calls a referendum on a possible bailout agreement
5 Jul: Greek voters overwhelmingly reject terms of third EU bailout in referendum vote
14 Aug: Greece agrees bailout deal worth up to €86bn with its creditors - its third in five years - allowing tax hikes and new spending cuts. Mr Tsipras resigns a week later clearing the way for snap elections in September, as he seeks a new mandate
20 Sept: New Democracy concedes election victory to Syriza
Mr Tsipras's popularity had to appeared to suffer after signing the bailout deal.
A referendum called by him saw 60% of voters reject the austerity measures demanded by creditors.
A referendum called by him saw 60% of voters reject the austerity measures demanded by creditors.
