Greece's Socialists trounced the governing conservatives in a landslide election victory Oct. 4, with voters angered by scandals and a faltering economy ousting Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis halfway through his second term.

Humbled by his New Democracy party's worst electoral performance ever, Karamanlis, 53, resigned as its leader. The party was founded by his late uncle, Constantine Karamanlis, 35 years ago.

George Papandreou, 57, now follows in the footsteps of his father, Andreas Papandreou — who founded his Panhellenic Socialist Movement party, or PASOK — and grandfather and namesake, George Papandreou, both of whom served several terms as prime minister.

Results showed PASOK winning with 43.93 percent, compared to 34.03 percent for New Democracy. Turnout was at 70.44 percent. Voting is compulsory in Greece, though penalties for failing to vote are no longer enforced.

The result gives PASOK a solid majority of 160 seats in the 300-member parliament, bringing the party back to power after five years of conservative governance.