SYRIZA president Socrates Famellos doubled down on the scenario of cooperation with progressive parties, particularly with Alexis Tsipras, during his speech at the Political Secretariat meeting. “In this framework of unity and reconstruction, Alexis Tsipras’ role is decisive and his moves have objectively created new realities for the entire progressive space,” Famellos stated characteristically. The SYRIZA president’s support was so evident that Nikos Pappas, Pavlos Polakis, and Tryfonas Alexiadis kept relatively low profiles, while almost all Political Secretariat members condemned Giorgos Panagiotópoulos’ move to refer Kostas Zachariadis to the Ethics Committee for his comments about Alexis Tsipras.
“We have clearly, consistently and sincerely presented our proposal to the remaining progressive parties. Through public invitations, through our 10+1 proposals as the basis for programmatic discussion, and through the Progressive Greece plan we presented at the Thessaloniki International Fair. By decision of the latest Central Committee, we have organized, participated in and supported many discussions both at leadership level (on climate, agricultural strategy, insularity) and at local level. We have also taken many joint initiatives mainly with New Left in Parliament, but also with other progressive parties. However, the need for governing progressive politics remains open. If this doesn’t happen, the only winner will be Mr. Mitsotakis and the system that supports him,” Famellos emphasized.
“The common progressive pole must be the goal,” the SYRIZA president stressed, adding that “There has been no political will until today to take substantial steps toward cooperation from other forces in the progressive space.” He simultaneously noted that “PASOK-KINAL, by insisting on its autonomous course, which remains to be confirmed at its congress, is making a historic mistake. That’s why we must move forward with those who want and can participate in a path of unity and reconstruction of the progressive space. Let the others assume their responsibilities toward the progressive world.”
Famellos then stated: “New Left talks about a ‘Popular Front,’ but must clarify whether it will contribute to a strong progressive pole, while parties, movements and personalities from the progressive space like KOSMOS, PRATTO, Louka Katseli, among others, can contribute to this effort. In this framework of unity and reconstruction, Alexis Tsipras’ role is decisive and his moves have objectively created new realities for the entire progressive space. However, I want to make clear that solitary paths, entrenchment, introversion and new confrontations that have exhausted the Left are not solutions. The solution is unity that will again give governing prospects to the left-progressive alignment. This is the demand of progressive citizens and in this effort, SYRIZA-PS’s role is consistent, clear and guarantees the unifying effort. For this reason, strengthening SYRIZA-PS through political action is necessary to reinforce the unity proposal.”
“Through cooperation of progressive forces, life will be breathed and social forces will be mobilized, which both the Right and the system fear. During this period, SYRIZA-PS has produced very significant work at all levels. Political, organizational, and in its internal organization. Among all this, we can announce the complete financial rehabilitation of the party. When I took over as president, there was a large debt of 2.9 million euros, which has now been zeroed out. This year the party will have a positive balance sheet and surplus. That’s our difference – we owe nothing to suppliers or banks,” Famellos noted characteristically.
“Regarding party media, without stopping our efforts, we achieved something significant. An arrangement was made to pay all employees’ earned wages. The first installment has already been paid and all owed salaries will be settled. It was our obligation and we made it happen. We have an obligation to do much more in the media, both to reduce operating costs and increase revenues. There’s already serious progress in digital tools and multimedia productions of Avgi and Kokkino with a major increase in reach,” he added.
“In conclusion, we have publicly established SYRIZA-PS’s proposal for the strategy of progressive solution and for unity and reconstruction of the progressive space. Other parties now position themselves based on our proposal, society demands it, and we have significantly contributed to preparing a unifying progressive prospect through our party’s stability and the seriousness of our work. It’s certainly not easy, but it’s society’s demand and need, and for this reason, we present it to other parties and progressive forces,” he said in closing.
Full text of Socrates Famellos’ address to the Political Secretariat meeting
SYRIZA-PS condemned the military attack on Iran from the first moment. We emphasized that Greece must not become involved in the war. Military bases must not be used and there must be no involvement in operations in the Strait of Hormuz. The country must recall the transfer of Patriot missiles that were transferred to Saudi Arabia in 2021, and priority must be given to immediately repatriating all those in affected areas and evacuating sailors from war zones. It’s the government’s obligation to continuously, publicly and explicitly state these positions.
We insist on our seven-point plan for peace and security that we proposed for the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (detailed in the previous Political Secretariat meeting). We certainly insist on convening the Council of Political Leaders and repeat our obvious support for the Republic of Cyprus.
We’re launching a campaign for peace and against war. Defending peace is a fundamental element of our political identity. This campaign must unite progressive voices and mobilize the entire society.
To the wave of high prices and profiteering that already exists due to government responsibility, the effects of military escalation are added. The measures announced by the government are insufficient and won’t succeed. Mr. Mitsotakis and the government are afraid to say the word “refineries.” That’s where the source of profiteering lies.
SYRIZA-PS will submit an amendment to Parliament tomorrow morning with 4 axes for addressing profiteering and high prices. It will include:
VAT suspension on food and medicines for six months,
Reduction of excise tax on all fuels to the EU’s lowest rate,
Price ceiling and limitation of refining margin,
Price ceiling throughout the supply chain, addressing profiteering by oligopolies and middlemen.
Our program is costed and substantially helps all of society and households.
Addressing profiteering requires effective and sweeping controls, market regulation and control, and substantial state intervention in ELPE.
The impact on the agricultural sector will be significant, following the new fuel price increase, a sector for which the government has taken no substantial measures after the mobilizations. Instead, it continues implementing the Pissarides plan where big fish eat small fish.
Government scandals
The Mitsotakis government has earned the title of scandal government. In the wiretapping scandal, it organized and covered up a parastatal surveillance system. The justice leadership must assume its responsibilities and ensure full investigation of the scandal. Those responsible must be held accountable no matter how high they are. Any criminal responsibilities of political figures must be investigated.
Three years after the Tempe crime, the Greek people demand truth and justice. We stand with the relatives and the entire society in their struggle for truth, justice, against attempts to cover up government responsibilities.
In the OPEKEPE scandal, revelation of the Varras document demolished government claims of ignorance and raises serious questions about misleading Parliament, perjury in the Investigative Committee and attempted scandal cover-up. The document’s revelation is a significant victory for SYRIZA-PS’s Parliamentary Group and confirms the correctness of the joint SYRIZA-PS and New Left proposal for establishing a Preliminary Investigation.
Regarding the training programs scandal, revelations about Ms. Stratinakai and her partner, as well as Mr. Panagópoulos reveal another blue scandal.
The country must turn the page. A progressive Greece, with justice, democracy and sustainable development can and must be the alternative, the progressive solution.
All our collective decisions over the past 1.5 years (Congress, Central Committee, Political Secretariat) serve society’s need, express it and transform it into a political plan.
“The common progressive pole must be the goal”
We have clearly, consistently and sincerely presented our proposal to the remaining progressive parties. Through public invitations, through our 10+1 proposals as basis for programmatic discussion, and through the Progressive Greece plan we presented at the Thessaloniki International Fair.
By decision of the latest Central Committee, we have organized, participated in and supported many discussions both at leadership level (on climate, agricultural strategy, insularity) and locally. We have also taken many joint initiatives mainly with New Left in Parliament, but also with other progressive parties.
However, the need for governing progressive politics remains open. If this doesn’t happen, the only winner will be Mr. Mitsotakis and the system supporting him. The common progressive pole must be the goal.
There has been no political will until today to take substantial cooperation steps from other progressive space forces.
PASOK-KINAL, by insisting on its autonomous course, which remains to be confirmed at its congress, is making a historic mistake.
That’s why we must move forward with those who want and can participate in a path of unity and reconstruction of the progressive space. Let the others assume their responsibilities toward the progressive world.
New Left talks about a “Popular Front,” but must clarify whether it will contribute to a strong progressive pole, while parties, movements and personalities from the progressive space like KOSMOS, PRATTO, Louka Katseli, among others can contribute to this effort. In this framework of unity and reconstruction, Alexis Tsipras’ role is decisive and his moves have objectively created new realities for the entire progressive space.
However, I want to make clear that solitary paths, entrenchment, introversion and new confrontations that have exhausted the Left are not solutions.
The solution is unity that will again give governing prospects to the left-progressive alignment. This is progressive citizens’ demand and in this effort, SYRIZA-PS’s role is consistent, clear and guarantees the unifying effort. For this reason, strengthening SYRIZA-PS through political action is necessary to reinforce the unity proposal.
Through cooperation of progressive forces, life will be breathed and social forces will be mobilized, which both the Right and the system fear.
During this period, SYRIZA-PS has produced very significant work at all levels. Political, organizational, and in its internal organization.
Among all this, we can announce the complete financial rehabilitation of the party. When I took over as president, there was a large debt of 2.9 million euros, which has now been zeroed out. This year the party will have a positive balance sheet and surplus. That’s our difference – we owe nothing to suppliers or banks.
Regarding party media, without stopping our efforts, we achieved something significant. An arrangement was made to pay all employees’ earned wages. The first installment has already been paid and all owed salaries will be settled. It was our obligation and we made it happen. We have an obligation to do much more in media, both to reduce operating costs and increase revenues. There’s already serious progress in digital tools and multimedia productions of Avgi and Kokkino with major increased reach.
In conclusion, we have publicly established SYRIZA-PS’s proposal for progressive solution strategy and for unity and reconstruction of the progressive space. Other parties now position themselves based on our proposal, society demands it, and we have significantly contributed to preparing a unifying progressive prospect through our party’s stability and our work’s seriousness. It’s certainly not easy, but it’s society’s demand and need, and for this reason, we present it to other parties and progressive forces.
