Fierce clashes and intense behind-the-scenes maneuvering have dominated SYRIZA in recent hours, triggered by the election of a new parliamentary group leader — a vote scheduled for Saturday, ahead of the critical Central Committee session. Notably, on Wednesday evening, Pavlos Polakis made his move through leaks from his inner circle, demanding that Rena Dourou withdraw her candidacy so that he could be elevated to the leadership position unopposed.
According to close associates, “the only condition that can put SYRIZA-P.S. back on a winning track — reconnect it with a society under enormous pressure and secure its parliamentary representation in the next parliament — is his unanimous election as parliamentary group leader and head of the upcoming electoral battle!”
The prerequisites for this, they stated, are:
• the refinement of political strategy and the replenishment of central party bodies and key positions of responsibility at Saturday’s Central Committee meeting
• the voluntary and consensual withdrawal of Rena Dourou’s candidacy for the parliamentary group presidency, and the election of Pavlos Polakis to that position the following week, after the party restructuring to be decided by the Central Committee
SYRIZA: Dourou leads the race for parliamentary group presidency
Polakis’s response belongs squarely in the realm of the surreal — it is, at the very least, absurd to demand that your rival step aside so you can lead the party without a vote. It comes, however, at a moment when current internal dynamics suggest that Rena Dourou holds the advantage in the parliamentary group leadership race.
Pappas’s proposal for collective leadership in SYRIZA and the pushback
At Wednesday’s parliamentary group session — which elected Giannis Amanatidis as secretary — Nikos Pappas was seen pressing his proposal for a collective leadership model. Under this arrangement, Rena Dourou would assume the parliamentary group presidency, Pavlos Polakis would chair the Electoral Committee, and the former Digital Policy minister would serve as secretary.
This scenario appears to have significant flaws, as Rena Dourou already commands the votes within the parliamentary group to become president outright — meaning she has no need to compromise with Polakis. This is especially true given that the chair of the Electoral Campaign Committee would be appearing in all public debates and representing the party across the board. Meanwhile, the name of Giannis Boulekos had also been floated for the secretary position.
Dourou and Polakis both oppose this scenario, not least because they represent two entirely different political worlds. The MP for the Western Sector is rooted in the traditional left — she keeps a low profile and is not expected to adopt a confrontational stance toward Alexis Tsipras. Polakis, on the other hand, appeals to the populist left, has made a name for himself through his combative performances in parliament, and is widely expected to set his sights on the Greek police force and the former prime minister.
Furthermore, if the collective leadership scenario were to prevail, the key question would be who holds ultimate authority. Dourou, speaking on Action 24 in response to the Chania MP’s comment that she could not lead SYRIZA into parliament with a respectable result, said: “No one can do it alone — not even get the party into parliament. Every time we set aside personal ambitions, every time we operated with solidarity, we achieved great things. The left achieves greatness when it unites.”
Wednesday’s session — through which Amanatidis was elected secretary — also laid bare the state of the party at Koumoundourou Street today: only seven MPs took part. Theofilos Xanthopoulos, Rena Dourou, Giannis Amanatidis, Elena Akrita, Giorgos Papailiou, Nikos Pappas, and Christos Giannoulis joined via Zoom. Together with Pavlos Polakis and Theodora Akriotou from Euboea — who is set to replace Symeon Kedikoглou — the party may reach nine MPs representing SYRIZA in parliament until elections are held.
Socrates Famellos, meanwhile, called Theofilos Xanthopoulos on Wednesday to voice his strong objection to the decision to elect a secretary before a president, signaling that the former SYRIZA leader is also ready to “press the button.” He conveyed that what had taken place was “an unacceptable manipulation, contrary to parliamentary procedures and the party’s rules — and contrary to the values of the left.”
SYRIZA MP resignations continue — who is next
Should SYRIZA decide at Saturday’s meeting to take a head-on confrontational stance against Alexis Tsipras, former party leader Socrates Famellos is widely expected to resign. On Wednesday, three more MPs declared independence: Alexandros Meikopoulos, Charis Mamoulakis, and Marina Kontotoli. Reports suggest that Olga Gerovasili, Dionysis Kalamatianοs, and Miltos Zambaras may also break away as soon as Thursday, while Kostas Barkas, Popi Tsapanidou, Kalliopi Vetta, and Vasilis Kokkalis are expected to remain with the party for the time being. Nikos Pappas launched a sharp attack on those choosing to leave, stressing that “the resignations and departures are part — intentionally or not — of a plan to dissolve SYRIZA.”
