SYRIZA finds itself in a state of internal party turmoil following the expulsion of Pavlos Polakis by Socrates Famellos, with party officials now awaiting reactions from the bloc supporting the Chania MP. While Socrates Famellos insists on removing Pavlos Polakis from the Parliamentary Group, Central Committee and Political Secretariat, behind the scenes there is intense concern about whether the conflict will evolve into an open intra-party war.
Polakis expulsion: Pappas’ role crucial in determining if SYRIZA faces internal war
The stance of Nikos Pappas is considered pivotal, as he stands politically alongside Pavlos Polakis and has not yet intervened publicly. Pappas’ position is expected to reveal whether an organized intra-party front is forming against Socrates Famellos or if a low-key tactical approach will ultimately be chosen, with eyes focused on the moves of Alexis Tsipras.
Polakis’ new post and call to SYRIZA members
Meanwhile, Pavlos Polakis appears determined not to abandon the battle within the party. In a new post, he calls on SYRIZA members and supporters “not to leave the party and its bodies,” arguing that “this political space has a history that is not the property of today’s leadership situation.” At the same time, he openly questions the legal and constitutional basis of his removal from party bodies, characteristically noting that “nowhere does the new constitution describe different rights or obligations of elected CE members on one hand from ex officio MP-members on the other.”
The Chania MP insists he remains a member of the Political Secretariat and Central Committee, reminding that he was elected to the PS “by vote from the Central Committee following Famellos’ proposal,” while noting that in the last electoral process for the CE he recorded some of the highest percentages nationwide.
Meanwhile, Pavlos Polakis further escalates his tone against the leadership, speaking of a “downward spiral of devaluation, inaction and dissolution of SYRIZA-PS” and calling for public interventions from MPs, members of the Political Secretariat, Central Committee and Regional Organizations. He demands the immediate convening of the Political Secretariat and Central Committee, while announcing he will also appeal to the Ethics Committee “regarding the unfounded claims being heard.”
The day after at Koumoundourou and eyes on Tsipras’ party
In the Famellos camp, however, they insist the matter is closed and that Pavlos Polakis’ public attack tone toward the party president exceeded all limits of political tolerance. However, it’s clear that the next day for SYRIZA will be anything but easy, as the rift doesn’t exclusively concern personal relationships, but is directly connected to the party’s strategy regarding the new political venture that Alexis Tsipras is reportedly preparing.
