New Democracy sweeping regions as well

As exit polls for the European Parliament elections put opposition New Democracy firmly in the lead over ruling SYRIZA in Greece, the conservative party also appeared to be trouncing the leftists in regional elections, also held on Sunday, along with the municipal ballot.

With over 8 percent of the vote counted, New Democracy appears poised to take 11 of Greece's 13 regions, including Attica.

With 5 percent of the vote counted in Attica, conservative candidate Giorgos Patoulis was given 36.2 percent over SYRIZA incumbent Rena Dourou's 20.5 percent and third-placed Yiannis Sgouros' 18.3 percent.

The 58-year-old ND frontrunner has been head of the influential Athens Medical Association and of the KEDE Central Union of Municipalities since 2006, and also served as mayor of the northern Athens suburb of Maroussi from 2007.

Dourou, 44, became Attica's...