ATHENS – Stefanos Kasselakis, the former leader of Greece’s left-wing SYRIZA party, dramatically announced his departure from the party on Friday night, vowing to create a new political movement. The announcement, delivered from his Athens office in the Tavros suburb, followed a turbulent SYRIZA congress marked by deep divisions and a refusal to consider Kasselakis as a candidate in the upcoming leadership election scheduled for later this month.
“This is not an act of betrayal,” Kasselakis declared, “but the continuation of the democratic Left in our country.” He urged supporters to return at 1 p.m. on Saturday for details on what he called “the most independent, most groundbreaking movement” in Greece.
The congress, delayed by nearly three hours due to tensions between pro- and anti-Kasselakis factions, exposed the deep rifts within the party. Disagreements extended even to the number of delegates present, with presiding officer Yiannis Mantzouranis citing 4,282 attendees, while Kasselakis supporters claimed the number was 3,587. The venue itself was not full, with online attendance also an option.
Following Kasselakis’s announcement, many of his supporters quietly left the congress. Adding to the turmoil, three SYRIZA lawmakers – Alexandros Avlonitis, Petros Pappas, and Rallia Christidou – announced their departure from the party, with at least some declaring their intention to become independent members of Parliament.
The split raises significant questions about the future of SYRIZA and the broader landscape of the Greek left. Kasselakis’s new venture promises to shake up the political scene, though its precise platform and potential impact remain to be seen. Further details are expected on Saturday afternoon.