The stance of Pavlos Polakis, who continues to distance himself from the party line and demand internal elections for the selection of a new party leader, has particularly irritated SYRIZA headquarters. Senior figures within SYRIZA have gone so far as to once again discuss expelling him from the party, should he continue to cause problems through his statements and dissenting positions.
SYRIZA: Polakis’ defiance and the collapse of collective leadership
In short, the experiment of collective leadership has been thrown in the bin. It is telling that SYRIZA will be represented at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) by Rena Dourou and Nikos Pappas, as Pavlos Polakis is unlikely to attend. Throughout recent weeks, the MP for Chania has been absent from all party events and did not even participate in the party’s video on private debt and non-performing loans. Yesterday, meanwhile, making his own mark as head of the Transparency sector, he announced that he would be visiting the Financial Crime Prosecutor today regarding the Novartis case, with his sights set on Adonis Georgiadis.
In his statement, he noted that: “This is the case that was archived by prosecutors Panagiotis Kapsimalis and Christos Bardakis — the latter, former head of the Financial Prosecutor’s Office, having been placed under surveillance by the Predator malware for two consecutive years, for unknown reasons, though certainly related to the exercise of his duties.” “In this context, an independent criminal complaint is being filed. An explicit request is made for the thorough examination and evaluation of new critical pieces of evidence pertaining to the case, including those revealed by former New Democracy MP Marios Salmas.”
SYRIZA heads to TIF with Rena Dourou and Nikos Pappas
At the Thessaloniki International Fair, the main address presenting the party’s programme will be delivered by Rena Dourou, while Nikos Pappas will handle the press conference. It is worth noting that the Secretary of the Central Committee will be filling this role for the second time, having previously answered journalists’ questions in September 2024 — when the party was left “headless” following the ousting of Stefanos Kasselakis.
