SYRIZA loses opposition status in Greece

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Greece’s left-wing SYRIZA party lost its position as the main opposition on Thursday following the resignations of two lawmakers.

Theodora Tzakri and Giota Poulou, elected to the Greek parliament on the SYRIZA ticket in June 2023, announced their decision to quit the party and become independents, according to public broadcaster ERT.

The lawmakers cited the party administration’s “undemocratic practices” and “lack of vision” as reasons for leaving.

They are expected to join a new center-left party led by Stefanos Kasselakis, whose formation is anticipated soon.

As a result, the social democratic PASOK party has become the country’s new main opposition, with 31 lawmakers.

In June 2023, SYRIZA secured slightly over 20% of the vote and 47 seats in parliament.

Kasselakis, elected SYRIZA’s leader in September 2023 after a heavy election loss, faced increasing challenges within the party. In December 2023, 11 senior lawmakers from its leftist faction left to form the New Left party.

This September, Kasselakis was ousted by the party’s central committee through a no-confidence vote. Earlier this month, he announced plans to leave SYRIZA and form a new political party.