Syriza Leadership at a Crossroads: Kasselakis Faces Crucial Decision

08:45 7/9/2024 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

Stefanos Kasselakis, leader of SYRIZA, is at a pivotal moment as internal tensions within the party reach new heights. Two opposing factions—the "87" members and a group led by Pavlos Polakis—have decided to table a no-confidence motion against him. This comes amid a growing atmosphere of dissent, with party approval ratings

slipping into single digits and Mr. Kasselakis' leadership under intense scrutiny.

Mr. Kasselakis now faces two key options.

The first is to await the formal no-confidence motion from the "87" and Polakis factions.

A victory, even by a slim margin, would secure his position long enough to attend the upcoming Statutory Congress, though he would emerge significantly weakened, having lost much of his parliamentary support after the dismissal of Socratis Famellos as Syriza’'s parliamentary leader.

The second, more assertive option, would be to take the initiative by addressing the leadership question head-on in his opening speech. Mr. Kasselakis could call for internal elections himself, allowing him to control the narrative and potentially negotiate a framework for a political agreement ahead of a leadership vote.

Mr. Kasselakis' declared aim is to reach the October Statutory Congress, where he plans to challenge his critics and reaffirm his leadership.

However, if he chooses to accept early elections, the "87" faction is expected to push for an Extraordinary Congress, which would officially confirm the leadership contest and set a timeline for the internal elections.

Should Mr. Kasselakis refuse to resign, the factions opposing him are prepared to move forward with the no-confidence vote.

Both camps are already counting votes within Syriza's Central Committee.

The "87" faction claims substantial support, while Polakis' group counts at least 30 members behind their push, with a few more undecided.

The outcome could hinge on whether the no-confidence vote is secret or public. A secret ballot would allow members to vote without external pressure, while an open vote would likely amplify internal party tensions.

Complicating matters further for Mr. Kasselakis is resistance to his proposed constitutional changes within the party.

His plans to abolish the Political Secretariat and reduce the Central Committee's influence have been met with significant opposition.

In the coming days,

Mr. Kasselakis must navigate a deeply divided party as both his leadership and SYRIZA's future hang in the balance.

Sotiris Bolakis

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