Just days after securing his position as the new leader of Greece's left-wing main opposition party, Stefanos Kasselakis announced on Thursday that he would temporarily step away from politics to fulfil his military service obligation.
At 35 years old, Kasselakis intends to present himself for military service in the near future, as it is mandatory for all Greek men. In an interview with Star Television, he expressed his eagerness to undertake this responsibility: "It will be an honour to do military service. I'm very happy. I'll go soon once the party bodies convene and things are set in order."
Kasselakis, the leader of the Syriza party, elected last Sunday, was exempt from military service until now due to his residency in the United States since the age of 14. However, upon returning to Greece, he is now required to serve six months in the military, with the option of fulfilling three weeks of active service and compensating for the remaining time.
A businessman with no prior political experience, Kasselakis, who is openly gay, emerged as the surprise winner of the party's election, replacing former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who resigned following Syriza's significant defeat in the June parliamentary elections.
Kasselakis's rapid ascent to the leadership of Syriza has unsettled some traditionalists within the party, who perceive him as an outsider. Adding to the complexity of his role as the leader of Greece's largest opposition party, Kasselakis is not a member of parliament.
While Greece's military includes a substantial number of professional troops, it still relies on conscription, with most individuals serving for 12 months. The exact timing of Kasselakis's military service remains uncertain, but Greek law allows him flexibility until early 2024.
He preferred to serve in a unit near Greece's land border with Turkey, its historical regional rival, or on one of the eastern Aegean Sea islands.
