The deadlock gripping SYRIZA shows no sign of resolution. On one hand, party officials appear eager to support the Greek Left Alliance led by Alexis Tsipras; on the other, the former prime minister has made clear he has no interest in cooperating with other parties — and no solution appears to be on the horizon.
Reports remain conflicting regarding a petition circulating among members of SYRIZA’s Central Committee (CC) to reconvene the party body. Some insiders claim no such document exists, arguing that the balance of power — which currently gives Socrates Famellos a majority — has not shifted. Others insist that the required signatures have already been gathered.
Notably, several of the officials calling for a CC session have made one thing clear: they will not sign any document that portrays them as taking an adversarial stance toward Tsipras’s new political venture.
At the same time, fresh questions have been raised by comments made by SYRIZA’s spokesman, Christos Giannouli. Speaking in an interview about whether — and how — progressive forces could unite, he stressed that this question cannot be answered through leaks or public interpretations by third parties. “This answer can only come from Alexis Tsipras himself. Whatever that answer may be. Not interpretations, not leaks, not intermediaries. Alexis Tsipras himself,” he stated emphatically.
This position stands in stark contrast to the official line of SYRIZA leader Socrates Famellos, who has maintained that the party has taken the initiative in building cooperation among progressive forces.
Notably, this marks the first time the party’s headquarters appears to be openly pressuring the former prime minister to publicly clarify his stance on political alliances — despite Tsipras having stated from the outset that he is not interested in inter-party cooperation, a model he considers to have already failed.
In the same interview, the party spokesman added: “I respect all opinions, but I cannot lend legitimacy to media commentators and an endless exchange of statements from officials, friends and fellow travelers at such a critical political, social and national juncture.”
He also reiterated that what is at stake goes far beyond parliamentary seats or personal political careers — what matters, he argued, is building a credible alternative governing proposal for Greek society.
“We are fighting for the people, not for our positions. Society is grappling with the cost-of-living crisis, the housing crisis, demographic decline and deep inequality. These are the issues that should be driving us,” Giannouli stressed.
In closing, Christos Giannouli underlined that the collective responsibility of all involved is to lay the groundwork for a broad progressive majority — one capable of addressing society’s real problems and delivering meaningful political change.
