‘I believe in the historical necessity of SYRIZA,’ party chief says
SYRIZA leader Sokratis Famellos on Wednesday responded to the decision of former prime minister and party chief Alexis Tsipras to resign from Parliament amid speculation that he plans to form a new party.
“There is a common goal: a progressive ballot to bring about a change of government in Greece. The paths are parallel… We are not enemies with Tsipras,” Famellos told Open TV.
However, he added: “I believe in the historical necessity of SYRIZA.”
Famellos, who was elected party leader almost a year ago, said there had been no prior consultation with Tsipras before he made his resignation public on October 6.
Impact
A poll released on Tuesday evening found that 8.6% of respondents said they would definitely vote for a party led by Tsipras, while 17.5% said they would probably support it. According to the same survey, conducted by Opinion Poll for Action 24 TV, SYRIZA would be the party most affected by a potential Tsipras-led formation, with 34.7% of its voters saying they would certainly back it and 44.6% saying they would consider it.
Tsipras, now 51, served as Greece’s prime minister from 2015 to 2019. He stepped down as SYRIZA leader following the party’s heavy defeat in the June 2023 elections. The next national election is scheduled for 2027.
Kathimerini
