The last mass exodus from SYRIZA was that of the Left Platform in the distant summer of 2015 and it had as its cause the imposition of the third memorandum.
Most of party cadres and parliamentarians then, later played a leading role in the formation of three main formations: LAE, MeRA25 and Plefsis Eleftherias.
“Black Monday”
The “black” Monday of October 23rd for SYRIZA had no similarities with the distant 2015. However, it officially opens a twist that mathematically leads to a rupture, even of the historical part of the party.
Starting early on Monday war drums could be heard. The departure of Stelios Kouloglou from the Eurogroup of the party with barbs against Stefanos Kasselakis, had a continuation of the traditional shots from both sides of the party membership both on television and on social networks.
However, there were already hints from comments by Dora Avgeri, who is the official voice of the party, but also by the leak against Dimitris Vitsas, who essentially also revealed the processes of a new party formulation while speaking on a television panel.
Something else weighed further. A text circulated by the Umbrella forces was extremely destructive for Kasselakis.
Outside the party
And then came the tweet of the President of SYRIZA from the USA and his intention to exclude from the party three members with special weight for the human geography of the area: Panos Skourletis, Nikos Filis, Dimitris Vitsas.
All three former ministers, and two of them former secretaries of the Central Committee (Skourletis and Vitsas), one and for many years the director of Avgi newspaper (Filis). These are cadres with clout. And also with a leading role in the Umbrella faction. Skourletis and Filis are members of the informal troika of the “old guard” – together with Nikos Voutsis, who is older than both of them.
Now comes the hard part. First of all, the 15-member Ethics Committee of SYRIZA under Antonis Kotsakas should not simply manage the proposal to delete Stefanos Tzoumakas. If that were the only thing, a suspension for a period of the party status of the former minister, who hails from PASOK, might have provided a solution. And it would be acceptable since even Kasselakis’ critics found Tzoumaka’s attitude harsh and mean.
The game is changing
But now here the game changes. For many, Kasselakis is making a show of presidential punch without securing a majority even in the Central Committee. Simply, as the opposition says, “he is clearing the landscape to go to a Central Committee meeting that will be able to favorably launch his plan.”
On the other hand, the neo-presidential group stands in the opposition’s position, that essentially the latter do not accept the election of Kasselakis from the base of ordinary members.
Here the new president of SYRIZA has as his own promotional weapon that for a part of the base the forces of Umbrella and its allies “are dead weight that undermined the party and Tsipras”.
Be that as it may, Pandora’s box is now wide open and all scenarios are possible.
Latest News
Gov’t Eyes Return of Power Subsidies Amid Spike in Rates
According to reports, the government will resume an electricity subsidization program, given that forecasts cite disruptions – i.e. higher rates
ELSTAT: 6.3% Increase in Output Price Index for Agriculture and Livestock
The 6.3% rise in May 2024 is largely driven by an 8.8% increase in the crop output group, particularly due to changes in olive oil prices, and a 0.5% increase in the animal output group.
Balkans Blackout Highlights Climate Threats to Power Grids
The surge in electricity demand during the heat wave and the power deficit in Balkan markets have driven up prices in the Greek wholesale electricity market.
Greece in Top 4 Destinations Favored by European Tourists
Greece was selected by 5.9% of respondents who were asked where they would vacation this year, up from 5.4% in the same survey last year
Scope Affirms Greece’s BBB- Ratings; Revises Outlook to Positive
The international ratings firm raised Greece to investment grade in early August 2023
First Seaplane Test Flights to Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros
After decades of on-again, off-again efforts to schedule regular seaplane routes to Greece's numerous island and coastal destinations the prospect now appears within sight
ELSTAT- Overall Import Price Index for May 2024 up 2.8% y-o-y
The same price index had decreased 20.8% from May 2022 to May 2023
Over 7 in 10 Employees Feel Their Contributions Are Not Appreciated
Specifically, the option "Subjective opinions are prioritized over objective data" ranked highest in importance for young employees, with a score of 3.89 out of 4
OECD: Job Vacancies on the Rise in Greece
By the fourth quarter of 2023, job vacancies per unemployed person had risen by more than 4, with the index reaching 446 units compared to 100 units in late 2019
OTE Group: FTTH Program Advancing in Semi-Urban and Rural Areas of Greece
This initiative will provide ultra-fast internet speeds of up to 1Gbps to over 350,000 households and businesses in semi-urban and rural areas across the country