The political landscape has been shifting like quicksand lately, especially after the dissolution of the New Left Parliamentary Group, while now the number of independent MPs in Parliament has reached forty. This isn’t the first time such a phenomenon has occurred in parliamentary history, as we encountered similar numbers in the early years of the bailout programs, when expulsions and declarations of independence by MPs were almost daily occurrences. However, the times are completely different now, yet the numbers remain relentless.
Mapping the “40” independents
The independents, who informally function as the main opposition, constitute a heterogeneous group, as they come from all wings of Parliament, while the majority has SYRIZA as their reference point. These include Alexis Charitsis, Nasos Iliopoulos, Theano Fotiou, Meropi Tzoufi, Hussein Zeybek, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, Efi Achtsioglou -who handed over her parliamentary seat to Yannis Dragasakis, who will be counted as independent-, Petis Perkas, Euclid Tsakalotos, Sia Anagnostopoulou, Thodoris Dritsas -who replaced Alexis Tsipras when he resigned as MP in October 2025-, Ferhat Ozgur, Athina Linou, Yannis Sarakiotis, Evangelos Apostolakis, Rallia Christidou, Theodora Tzakri, Yota Poulou, Kyriaki Malama, Alexandros Avlonitis and Pavlos Polakis. Also among the independents are former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Marios Salmas -coming from New Democracy-, as well as two MPs from PASOK, Burhan Baran and Panagiotis Paraskevaides. Additionally, in the independent seats are Pavlos Sarakis -elected with Greek Solution- and former “Spartans” Athanasios Chalkias, Michail Gavgiotakis, Giorgos Manousos, Konstantinos Floros, Charis Katsivardas, Dionysis Valtogiannis, Yannis Kontis, Giorgos Aspiotis and Yannis Dimitrokalis. Among the independents we also find Nikos Vrettos and Nikos Papadopoulos -elected with “Victory”-, as well as Areti Papaioannou, Michalis Chourdakis and Eleni Karageorgopoulos -elected with Course of Freedom.
Signal from Tsipras
Now, most of them seem to be setting course for other parliamentary territories, with most already awaiting a signal from former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to join ELAS. This refers to the independents who until recently were in the New Left Parliamentary Group, as well as Yannis Sarakiotis and Athina Linou. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case with retired admiral and former Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis, who appears to be one step away from joining PASOK, while Alexandros Avlonitis may not rule out boarding the Course of Freedom ship. At the same time, Marios Salmas with recent statements left open the possibility of cooperation either with PASOK or with Tsipras’s party, though no development has occurred so far. Areti Papaioannou is keeping her cards close to her chest, while Michalis Chourdakis appears likely to be a candidate with Kasselakis’s party, despite information suggesting he’s also looking toward PASOK.
Furthermore, Elena Karageorgopoulos, who recently declared independence from Course of Freedom using particularly harsh language about party leader Zoe Konstantopoulou, has spoken positively about Alexis Tsipras, though she hasn’t made any decision. Indeed, in private conversations she hasn’t even ruled out the possibility of leaving politics altogether. Meanwhile, Rallia Christidou will be a candidate with Kasselakis’s party, while what both Theodora Tzakri (rumored to be on PASOK’s radar) and Yota Poulou will do remains unknown. Regarding Euclid Tsakalotos, Petis Perkas, Sia Anagnostopoulou and Thodoris Dritsas, the landscape hasn’t cleared and we shouldn’t rule out seeing cooperation with MeRA25, although Yanis Varoufakis wouldn’t want the North Sector MP to participate in this venture, as he believes this would also mean the end of his party.
Charis Katsivardas has been heard from time to time that he will join New Democracy -he supports government bills-, while what Konstantinos Floros will do remains unknown. Indeed, the former had said it would be “wishful thinking” for him to join the parliamentary majority’s bandwagon. Athanasios Chalkias and Yannis Kontis appear likely to find new political shelter in Greek Solution, while Nikos Papadopoulos has created a party called Greek Pulse. For both him and Nikos Vrettos during the previous period there was information wanting them close to Maria Karystianos, president of the Hope for Democracy party, however this is not confirmed by either side.
Samaras’s party
At the same time, what the independents coming from the “Spartans” will do remains unknown, while Antonis Samaras constitutes a special case, who, as everything indicates, will proceed with establishing a new party. Finally, at this point a parliamentary paradox must be recorded: For the first time in post-transition history, Parliament doesn’t have 300 MPs, but 297, due to the removal of Vasilis Stigkas, Petros Dimitriadis and Alexandros Zerveas from their parliamentary positions, with their seats remaining vacant.
Published in Parapolitika newspaper
