The decision by the Central Committee of SYRIZA to support Alexis Tsipras’s initiative ultimately failed to resolve the existential crisis facing the Koumoundourou party. While Socrates Famellos emerged victorious in this process, his internal party opponents will not abandon their efforts to ensure SYRIZA runs independently or with alternative partnerships in the upcoming elections.
According to sources, Polakis, Pappas, and Dourou are expected to wait fifteen days to see if the party president will communicate with Alexis Tsipras before opening a new front. Reports suggest they will launch public attacks, demanding explanations about how he interprets support for Tsipras’s initiative and will do everything possible to expose him in the eyes of SYRIZA voters.
It should be noted that the noise these officials generate is inversely proportional to the resonance their positions have within party organs, considering the voting results in both the Political Secretariat and the party’s Central Committee. Pavlos Polakis described this group’s intentions Saturday evening, saying the struggle continues and that SYRIZA will not self-dissolve. What this means remains unclear, though the balance of power doesn’t appear to favor them. It’s characteristic that while the Chania MP represented a large segment of the party in internal elections, he now appears to register only 30% support in party organs.
Polakis and Pappas refuse to surrender
Obviously, both Pavlos Polakis and Nikos Pappas will not “lay down their arms” by accepting they won’t be candidates in the next elections. If their next plans don’t succeed, some sources suggest they will attempt to contact the New Left, Nikos Kotzias, and Louka Katseli, potentially including Yannis Dragasakis in the framework. Whether there will be a response from the other side remains unknown. Everyone knows, however, that things are particularly difficult for SYRIZA.
Famellos considers emergency SYRIZA congress during summer – Goal to legitimize Central Committee decision
Meanwhile, Socrates Famellos appears to be seeking a move that will formalize the Central Committee’s decision to support Tsipras’s initiative. This can only be an emergency or extended congress. Some suggest Mr. Famellos might convene an emergency congress even during summer to legitimize the Central Committee’s decision.
According to well-informed Koumoundourou sources, if the congress adopts the Central Committee’s decision, everything will be legal and institutional. Otherwise, Socrates Famellos will resign, taking responsibility. The mere existence of these scenarios shows that internal party conflicts within SYRIZA are endless, despite many officials appearing ready to abandon it.
It should be noted that SYRIZA’s Central Committee decision to support Alexis Tsipras’s initiative, beyond the internal conflicts it brought, opened the door for anyone from the Koumoundourou party who wishes to officially support the Greek Left Alliance. From today, we might see some SYRIZA MPs on television explaining how they specifically support the new initiative based on their party’s voted decision. Meanwhile, however, Amalias Street appears to be watching Koumoundourou events from afar, given that Alexis Tsipras distanced himself from SYRIZA on the day of his resignation.
