Greek MEP ready to claim main opposition Syriza party’s leadership
Greece’s main opposition leftist Syriza party should end its internal divisions and take initiatives to speak to other progressive forces, EU lawmaker Nikolas Farantouris told Euractiv, adding that he stands ready to claim the party’s leadership.
Incumbent Syriza leader Stefanos Kasselakis has been walking a tightrope for months.
His efforts to solidify his control over the party after he took over the leadership in September 2023 – replacing former prime minister Alexis Tsipras – have not been successful.
A “big divorce” in November 2023—when a big faction of Syriza departed and created the New Left party—followed by recent internal turmoil resulted in an increased number of members questioning his leadership.
The next day of Syriza seems uncertain as local reports suggest that a censure motion against Kasselakis is on the cards.
Ruling centre-right New Democracy party (EPP) is in free fall as its rates drop to 21.6% compared to 29% in the EU elections last June.
But the opposition cannot capitalise on the ruling party’s lost votes: Syriza, estimated at 8.5%, is replaced in the second position by socialist Pasok, with 10.5%.
Moreover, pressure is mounting on Athens’ progressive opposition parties to join forces and challenge Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ political dominance—however, no major steps have been taken so far.
Time to end introversion
Professor Nikolas Farantouris, a Syriza EU lawmaker and member of the federalist Spinelli Group, told Euractiv that the left is inspired EU federalism and, therefore, does “not indulge in introversion, internal contradictions, divisions and dogmatism”.
“I believe in this Left as a bulwark on the extreme right for Europe and Greece”, he noted.
Referring to Syriza’s turmoil, he said it’s time to get out of the “prolonged, year-long spiral of introversion, depreciation and decay.”
Last week, a source close to Kasselakis told Euractiv that since after the EU elections, “some have been pushing for a wider centre-left front and getting closer to [the socialist] Pasok or others […] without any condition [related to the policy agenda] or Kasselakis as the Syriza leader.”
But for Farantouris, a debate with other progressive forces is needed.
For Syriza to remain at the forefront of progressive ideas and movements and ultimately progressive forces, it must wake up. “Confidently, without extorting the debate between progressive forces,” he said.
The EU lawmaker noted that the climate of unity and extroversion has been shaken and stressed that Syriza needs to feel “self-confident” to take initiatives in front of democratic and progressive forces.
Thanks to a successful and smart social media campaign, Kasselakis managed to enter Greek politics and become the talk of the town within a weekend.
Read more: A ‘stranger’ becomes Greek left boss, shakes political system
His social media presence has disturbed some traditional leftist members, with Farantouris criticising this communication strategy.
“Extroversion means political actions everywhere without self-referentiality and personal projection”, he said.
When asked what he would change from day one if he took over, he referred to the government of former Greek leader Alexis Tsipras (January 2015 – July 2019), saying he would honour and “guard” Europe’s “biggest leftist party’s legacy.”
“The legacy of a party that recently ruled the country, consolidated stability in the Balkans and the southeastern Mediterranean, solved problems, led Greece out of memorandums with coffers full and protected the welfare state”.
“This legacy, I feel in front of our thousands of members and friends that I must guard and expand with specific initiatives. Even putting himself in the judgment of our members”, he added.
Highlighting Tsipras’ government will not please Kasselakis as his relations with the former prime minister are not at their best. Some close to Kasselakis claim that the party’s turmoil is triggered by people close to Tsipras.
Read more with Euractiv
