The SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance as we have known it until now, more precisely the path it has followed for the past year, with Stefanos Kasselakis at the helm, ends it. The 2.9 kilometers that separate Koumoundourou from the offices of the former president in Tauros did not succeed and although everything that was expected to happen… did not happen at this time. , that the “two strangers” in the same party decided to go their separate ways.
The coming together
The atmosphere of war was yesterday as well, in the hours before the formal start of the conference, and shot mainly from the former president’s side. The tone was set – before the start of the work - by gathering a few hundred people outside the venue (meetings and non-meetings). Most were in favor of St. Kasselakis, characteristics and slogans that could be heard: “Stefan, go ahead, change everything”, “Stefan, remember that the bottom is with you” or “Hands off Kasselakis”. Some of the attendees came from the district by coach, the first of which arrived at 2.15pm. and all this people remained outside the place for many hours. Employees of “Avgi” and “Kokkino” were also present.
Another aspect that increased the mistrust between the two camps was that there was a long delay in the process of confirming and informing the delegates. That is why a group of the former president’s partners (M. Kapnisakis, T. Tzakri, T. Moraitis, Ol. Teligioridou et al.) visited Koumoundourou yesterday, and the secretary of the Parliamentary Group confirms that she has 1,934 statements. on file delegates in favor of the participation of St. Kasselakis in the presidential election and the prediction that they will exceed 2,000 in the end.
The two camps disagree, however, about the number of delegates. According to Mrs Tzakri, the delegates are 3,587, while the majority believes that the delegates have much more. The former president who visited the collection, even claimed that the last congress should go in as well. However, the legalization committee found many irregularities.
“I gave you up…”
Since, however, fate plays its own games, it was… destined for SYRIZA that the man who opened the party door for Stefanos Kasselakis would be the one to close it: Pavlos Polakis in other words . With stacks of documents from the former president’s offshore companies in hand, the Chania MP and presidential candidate submitted them to the Political Secretariat on Thursday. Documents that declare, according to Polakis, ”Pothen Esches false”, and the president ousted responding that the annual declaration “Pothen Esches” is one thing and it is the statement of the day he took office (the year last, in September) another thing.
Although specifically, for the offshore company linked to the former president’s father, St. Kasselakis promised that all legal answers would be given within a week, he even asked that his family be left out, without actually answering whether the law had been violated, which dictates that even first-degree relatives of politicians cannot participate in offshore companies.
St. Kasselakis, however, left a personal tip against P. Polakis: “I’m sorry when someone ends because of excessive egoism”. Until three days ago, remember, P. Polakis declared that he wants to defeat his local rival on the road, but on Thursday he called PG that St. to be a candidate. Kasselakis by submitting the data he collected about him – and from this point of view, one wonders about his choice. The reasons may or may not be purely political. For example, it is sad where he wanted to say again that St. Castle…
A demand he repeated yesterday, according to information, in the meeting he had with the three other presidential candidates (Famello, Faradouris and Gletso), the secretary Rania Svigou and the president of the Parliamentary Group Nikos Pappa. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen the relationship of the candidates against the common enemy, which threatens the party. (Nicolas Faradouris took part in the meeting as usual – although he rejected a related proposal from Sokratis Famellos -, he even made a related statement outside of Koumoundourou.) However, Monday will be another day for all four presidential candidates …
A new era
It will be another day for the winning star of SYRIZA-PS, who, after all, opened his retirement door yesterday morning, when he was interviewed on Mega – the third one on the same TV station in a week – he said, literally, that he is not going to stay in an anti-democratic party. With the simultaneous declaration that he accepts proposals to form a party. Therefore, St. Kasselakis is ready for the new political entity.
This does not mean, however, that the newly formed party will start with the best of intentions. It seems that the best officials from the party that supported him all this time are not willing to leave their homes. The first message was sent in Thursday’s vote in the General Assembly, when Rena Dourou, Panos Rigas and Nikos Skorinis voted in favor of the body’s decision on the “false declaration of No Esches” – the first two, it should be noted, were the the architects of… of Athens West with St. Casselakis.
But even at the level of parliamentarians, the situation is different for the new party. Apart from Alexandros Avlonitis and Petros Pappas, who are already considered to be from SYRIZA, and maybe Theodora Tzakri, the rest of the “Kasselakian” MPs speak with “maybe” and “perhaps”. A member of parliament who was particularly militant in favor of Mr. Kasselakis, who asked to remain anonymous, usually told the “Newspaper of the Editors” that he will not follow the former president in the new party. It is recalled that four MPs separate PASOK and SYRIZA-PS. which currently has the status of the official opposition party.
The question, then, is whether Stefanos Kasselakis – known for his tenacity – will survive 2.5 years before the next scheduled national elections. Have the contacts he has made obtained the necessary resources for the new party? Of course, the first polls that will see the light of day will have many judgments – for Kasselakis’ party but also for SYRIZA…
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Political Expert
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon and welcome to our special interview segment. Today, we’re diving deep into the recent developments within the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance and the significant shifts under Stefanos Kasselakis’ leadership. Joining me is Dr. Alexia Dimitriadis, a political analyst with extensive expertise in Greek politics. Thank you for being here, Dr. Dimitriadis.
Dr. Alexia Dimitriadis: Thank you for having me. The recent events within SYRIZA have indeed been quite captivating.
Time.news Editor: Let’s start with the current atmosphere surrounding the party. It seems there’s a palpable tension, especially between the supporters of Kasselakis and the former president’s camp. How would you characterize this division?
Dr. Alexia Dimitriadis: It’s a classic case of internal strife within a political party, marked by loyalty clashes and differing visions. The recent conference, where emotions ran high, illustrated just how divided the factions are. On one side, you have the staunch supporters of Kasselakis, chanting slogans like ”Stefan, go ahead, change everything,” which reflects both a fervent desire for change and also their belief in his leadership. On the other, there’s a camp that feels sidelined and is concerned about the future direction of the party.
Time.news Editor: It’s interesting to note that a substantial number of delegates are reportedly backing Kasselakis despite claims of irregularities in delegate counts. What does this suggest about his influence?
Dr. Alexia Dimitriadis: It highlights Kasselakis’ strong connection with the grassroots, particularly among newer, younger members of the party who are eager for change. His ability to mobilize support, even in the face of organizational chaos, suggests that he resonates with a significant portion of the party’s base. However, the accusations of irregularities also indicate a possible power struggle that could undermine his authority moving forward.
Time.news Editor: Speaking of power struggles, Pavlos Polakis has played a rather dramatic role, shifting from an ally to a critic. What impact do you think Polakis’ actions have on Kasselakis’ leadership?
Dr. Alexia Dimitriadis: Polakis’ intervention, especially regarding the offshore company allegations, serves as both a strategic attack and a personal blow. It calls into question not just Kasselakis’ integrity but also the trust within the party. Such revelations can destabilize a leadership that is already contested. If Polakis and his supporters rally around these accusations, they might galvanize other factions to oppose Kasselakis.
Time.news Editor: Clearly, this situation is rife with challenges for Kasselakis. There’s also been talk about him forming a new political entity. What does this indicate about his long-term strategy?
Dr. Alexia Dimitriadis: Kasselakis’ statement about not staying in an “anti-democratic party” and his openness to forming a new political entity signals a significant pivot. It suggests that he’s considering positioning himself not only as a reformer within SYRIZA but potentially as a founding figure of a new movement that could attract disenchanted voters from both inside and outside the party. This could be a double-edged sword—while it opens new avenues, it also risks fracturing the existing party structure even further.
Time.news Editor: As we move forward, what key factors should we watch for that might shape the future of SYRIZA and Kasselakis’ role within it?
Dr. Alexia Dimitriadis: Pay attention to the reactions from both factions and any emerging alliances. The upcoming delegate meetings will be crucial. Additionally, how Kasselakis handles the fallout from these allegations and utilizes them to fortify his position will be telling. observe public sentiment and how effectively he can communicate his vision. If he can harness the support of the grassroots while appeasing the skeptical former members, he might not only survive but thrive in this tumultuous landscape.
Time.news Editor: Thank you for your insightful analysis, Dr. Dimitriadis. It’s clear that SYRIZA is at a critical juncture, and the coming weeks will be vital for its future and for Kasselakis. We appreciate your time today.
Dr. Alexia Dimitriadis: Thank you! It was a pleasure discussing these pressing political issues.