The debate continues both through public statements and behind the scenes at Koumoundourou regarding whether SYRIZA will run independently in the next elections or in cooperation with other parties. In reality, this discussion concerns whether SYRIZA will cooperate with Alexis Tsipras and in what way, since, as is known, the former prime minister does not wish to include certain SYRIZA officials in his new political formation.
On Monday, Koumoundourou’s press spokesperson Kostis Zachariadis clarified which forces SYRIZA wants to cooperate with. “We are making a coordinated and organized effort that seeks the broadest unity of progressive forces. The forces we are addressing include smaller movements, such as those of N. Kotzias, L. Katseli, P. Kokkalis, and larger movements, namely New Left and PASOK and, of course, Al. Tsipras. If PASOK decides at its congress to run alone – and this is the most likely scenario – and they go to beat Mr. Mitsotakis by one vote, as Mr. Androulakis says, it raises a question for all the rest of us about what we will do.”
SYRIZA’s press spokesperson added that “I don’t agree with going home, just as I don’t agree with making a record of SYRIZA’s current forces. The role of SYRIZA-PS – and this is what the decision of the Political Secretariat and the Central Committee says – is the reconstruction of the broader progressive space, unity and overcoming divisive lines. We must participate in this discussion and we must participate in a positive way. We don’t say we want to close SYRIZA-PS, nor do we want such a thing. However, when you make a statement and say ‘if it doesn’t happen this way or that way, I’ll run alone,’ this ultimately functions as a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
On the other hand, former SYRIZA Deputy Finance Minister Tryfon Alexiadis, who aligns with Pavlos Polakis’ logic, speaking to Parapolitika 90.1 emphasized that: “SYRIZA will participate in the elections either in a broader cooperation scheme or, if others don’t want to, it will run alone. We will not close a party that represents the historic current of the Left.” Responding to scenarios about suspending the party’s operation that some propose, he stated: “There can be no suspension of SYRIZA’s operation and those who say various nonsense haven’t read the constitution. SYRIZA is a party that has settled its debts, has property assets, it’s not possible for some to say such things. Regarding the elections, however, what we want to clarify is whether other political forces ultimately want to do something big against Mitsotakis.” He added: “It’s ridiculous for us to go as officials to PASOK, we don’t discuss it.” And he added: “I have hope and estimation that some will become reasonable, my proposal is that some should decide within two, three months ‘we do something all together or we don’t.'”
SYRIZA: Power counting within the Central Committee
At the same time, power counting has begun within the Central Committee at Koumoundourou. That is, how many officials align with Sokratis Famellos’ view and how many with Pavlos Polakis, who believes they should wait two months to see how many and which parties will respond to their call and then decide to run alone in the elections. The majority of MPs, however, appear to want to wait and see how Alexis Tsipras will react. Given that the former prime minister has not decided when he will announce his party, SYRIZA officials have no choice but to wait for developments. The latest information suggests that Alexis Tsipras is looking at sometime between July and September to appear with a new party on the political scene.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Grigoris Theodorakis resigned as deputy press spokesperson of SYRIZA, as there were complaints from Koumoundourou that the former MP had moved to Amalias and was not adequate in his duties at SYRIZA. After this, Grigoris Theodorakis gave his resignation and officially moved to Alexis Tsipras’ headquarters.
