The initiative undertaken by officials from SYRIZA and New Left for a rapprochement between the two parties is characterized as an attempt to break both parties out of their political deadlock and bring them back dynamically to the political forefront. The president of New Left, Alexis Charitsis, following his interview in the newspaper “AVGI,” speaking on Parapolitika 90.1 and responding to a question about whether he is positive about the proposal for a joint electoral campaign by SYRIZA and New Left, answered: “We will not say ‘no’ to a discussion that puts forward the issue of political change from the perspective of the Left and from the perspective of a progressive solution. So in this sense, as long as we can discuss the basic issues of the period and the basic problems of Greek society…”.
“What matters to us is not a joint Parliamentary Group. What matters is that there be a political solution that will be expressed at the ballot box in the next elections. An electoral scheme that will be able to convincingly oppose the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis,” he continued.
Much work still required for SYRIZA and New Left reunion
According to sources, despite the intentions that exist in both parties, much work is needed for the endeavor to lead somewhere. Meanwhile, SYRIZA officials point out that this effort will not work antagonistically towards the moves that Alexis Tsipras is said to be making. “After all, the former prime minister is a SYRIZA MP,” officials from Koumoundourou characteristically say. The best development – say the same officials – would be for the whole endeavor to proceed immediately so that the two parties can once again find themselves in the position of official opposition in Parliament. This scenario is considered particularly difficult, however. Nevertheless, those participating in these processes want at least a sufficient period before the elections for there to be an agreement for a joint campaign by the two parties.
SYRIZA’s deputy spokesman, Grigoris Theodorakis, referring to the issue of cooperation, emphasized: “We have the phenomenon of fragmentation of the progressive space, but also our own mistakes – introversion, splits, etc. We went through a difficult period, with the result that we are still moving at low percentages. People want unity in the progressive space. What citizens are saying shows us the way. SYRIZA-PS has taken initiatives and we will continue with greater intensity. The dominant thing right now is to remove a bad government that is harming the country.”
