The leader of the main opposition Syriza party, Stefanos Kasselakis, announced on Friday a “referendum” in which the party’s rank and file would decide whether four of its members should be expelled from the party.
In a post on social media, he addressed “the Greek people” and “the significant majority in the country who want an alternative solution to the Mitsotakis-Voridis-Velopoulos government*.”
He emphasized that “will not back down” in the face of internal opposition in SYRIZA and announced the “referendum“on expulsion from the party historical members (Philis, Skourletis, Voutsis and former PASOK member Tzoumakas), who criticized him on many issues. He further stated that “will ask the Central Committee to decide to hold a referendum directly by the members and friends of the party, to the exclusion of the four party members who have cruelly insulted us all.” “If the Central Committee refuses, I will hold a referendum at the request of 15% of SYRIZA members, as provided for in our charter.”he concluded.
Δε θα κάνω πίσω.
Η λειτουργία ενός κόμματος, πόσω μάλλον της Αξιωματικής Αντιπολίτευσης, αποτελεί πολύ σοβαρό ζήτημα για να γίνεται θέμα αναβολών και σκόπιμων ή μη καθυστερήσεων.Γι’ αυτόν τον λόγο αύριο θα ζητήσω από την Κεντρική Επιτροπή να αποφασίσει τη διεξαγωγή… pic.twitter.com/jbiOwiTX2M
— Stefanos Kasselakis – Στέφανος Κασσελάκης (@skasselakis) November 10, 2023
Kasselakis’ initiative to hold a referendum caused outrage not only among his opponents in the party, but also among his own supporters such as Nikos Pappas. Media leaks claim that even former Prime Minister and ex-Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras, who supported his candidacy, was angry with him. According to media reports late Friday, members of the Syriza Central Committee are also considering “votes against Kasselakis”. “Voting like this doesn’t concern me”– the leader of SYRIZA allegedly commented.
Expat Stefanos Kasselakis was elected leader in a direct vote of party members in October. The 36-year-old apolitical man flew into the historic left-wing Greek party like a comet from outer space. Since then, he has been traveling the country in the style of a self-proclaimed “ruler according to the will of God”, “messiah” or who he thinks he is.
After the first signs of Kasselakis’ authoritarian behavior, many Syriza supporters bet that he would return to the US by February 2024. Others suggest that he appeared unexpectedly, to destroy the already shaken SYRIZA. In fact, he may not even make it to the referendum, since Skourletis and Voutsis announced their departure from the party on Friday morning, and by this coming Monday SYRIZA will no longer be the same. Their intention to leave the party was announced by the Umbrela faction, led by ex-Minister of Finance Euclid Tsakalotos. About 1,300 members of the faction signed and published a letter on Thursday in which they name Kasselakis “swindler”.
*Mitsotakis is the leader of the ruling New Democracy, Voridis is one of its ministers, and Velopoulos is the leader of the opposition Greek Solution party…
PS Meanwhile, Alexis Tsipras is counting the money he received for selling his post and rubbing his hands, quietly repeating to himself: “You will regret my leaving”…
More Stories
The Minister of Health called the protesters "insignificant people, kafirs"
Gold Switzerland: “We are in the last 5 minutes of our financial system – the collapse of everything is approaching”
Union of Judges: “People’s courts were created against us with the loyal attitude of the government”