Tsipras’s new party: ΕΛΑΣ, seven promises and a blow to power

Alexis Tsipras presented in Thisio new batch Ελληνική Αριστερή Συμπαράταξη (ΕΛΑΣ) and stated that Greece we need a new national line.

Alexis Tsipras officially presented in Athens Thisio new political project – party Ελληνική Αριστερή Συμπαράταξη (ΕΛΑΣ, Greek Left Association). The former prime minister said that the country needs a new political and national line, and his party claims to be the spokesman for a broad democratic and progressive part of society.

Briefly about the main thing

• Alexis Tsipras introduced a new party Ελληνική Αριστερή Συμπαράταξη (ΕΛΑΣ).
• The presentation took place on the square Thisio in Athens.
• Tsipras stated that Greece needed “new national compass needle” – new political orientation.
• The founding declaration contains seven core commitments.
• The new project is launched against the background of the restructuring of the entire space center-left strength

Tsipras’ speech was the culmination of a long period of political consultation and anticipation. Former leader SYRIZA is trying to return to big politics not as the leader of the old party, but as the founder of a new association, which should take a place in the fragmented and nervous center-left camp.

The name ΕΛΑΣ in itself has already become a political signal. It refers to the leftist tradition and at the same time inevitably evokes historical associations with ΕΛΑΣ times National resistance. Accident? In politics, such coincidences usually do not even survive the first press conference.

“Today a new political force is born”

At the beginning of his speech, Tsipras said that the day had come for a new political start.

“The big day has come, and there are many of us at this meeting with history,” – said Alexis Tsipras.

According to him, the new project should return the voice “large social majority”. Tsipras emphasized that this is not only about a change in political power, but also about a change in politics itself.

“Today a new political force is being born, the goal of which is not only political change, but also policy change,” – said the former prime minister.

Tsipras also said that his party does not intend to remain silent in the face of injustice, war, violence and growing inequality. In the international bloc, he emphasized that the party does not accept “the right of the strong”but stands for international law.

“We do not accept the law of the strong, but recognize international law. Therefore, we will never reconcile ourselves with the illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus, nor with plans for the de facto partition of the island,” – noted Tsipras.

A blow to the government

Tsipras directed his main political attack against the current government. He said that years after the crisis, the country is again being ruled by the same forces that, according to him, led it to bankruptcy.

“Sixteen years after bankruptcy, we are again ruled by those who drowned us and led us to bankruptcy. And they didn’t repent. The state is in the hands of a caste that treats it as prey.” – stated Alexis Tsipras.

This was the toughest part of the performance. Tsipras tried to link the current government to past crises, corruption, social inequality and a sense of a closed system where the state is used not as a social mechanism but as a political resource.

Here the former prime minister is clearly trying to play on society’s fatigue with the old party mechanisms. True, Tsipras himself is also not a new person in Greek politics. Therefore, his task is difficult: to sell voters a new start with a face that they already remember well. Politics loves such tricks because it always has a special relationship with the memory of voters.

“Greece needs a new national line”

A separate block of the speech was devoted to foreign policy. Tsipras said that in conditions of geopolitical instability Greece a new national orientation and an active multidimensional foreign policy are urgently needed.

According to him, the country must strengthen its role as a factor of peace and stability, and not act according to logic “given ally”which, according to Tsipras, could put Greece at risk.

This formulation is important: Tsipras is trying to show that his new project will speak not only about social policy and democracy, but also about foreign policy, Cyprus, wars, international law and the role of Greece in a rapidly changing world.

Seven commitments of the new party

During his speech, Tsipras presented the founding declaration and seven core commitments of the new party.

• Living with dignity.
• A strong democracy without immunity for the elected.
• A strong economy of equitable development and dignity.
• The welfare state is right against speculation.
• Resilient Greece in a world of constant crises.
• Digital democracy and sovereignty.
• A strong Greece that defends its rights and builds bridges of peace.

The set of promises is designed to cover almost everything: income, democracy, the economy, the welfare state, the digital sphere, foreign policy and security. That is, the classic starter package of a new party: broad enough for everyone to find something of their own, and general enough so that later you can clarify what exactly was meant. A political technology as old as democracy, but it still works.

New Metapolitefsi and the legacy of leftist movements

Tsipras said the country needs “shock of honesty and democracy” and in the new Metapolitefsi — that is, in a new political stage after the current crisis of confidence.

“We are here today not just to describe the harsh reality. We are here to change it, to take the fate of our homeland and our lives into our own hands. Because our country needs a shock of honesty and democracy. New Metapolitefsi”, – he said.

The former prime minister called on the Greeks to sign the party declaration and join “democratic and progressive mobilization”. He also stated that the new project carries the legacy of major movements of the progressive movement: ΕΑΜ, National resistance, ΕΔΑstruggle for democracy and peace, PASOK the first years of change and SYRIZA period “the first left power”.

This line shows that Tsipras is trying to bring together different sections of the left and progressive electorate under one political umbrella. The only question is whether they will believe in a new unification after many years of collapse of the old left structures. Because in Greek left-wing politics they love to unite almost as much as they love to then divide into new factions.

The center-left camp is entering a new phase

The launch of Tsipras’s new party comes amid intensifying fighting within center-left strength They are already working on this field PASOKremnants of influence SYRIZAnew movements, personal projects and groups that are trying to determine who exactly will be the main opponent New Democracy.

The question of possible future alliances has become especially acute. Before the party’s presentation, it was discussed whether Tsipras’ new project leaves room for cooperation or even co-governance with New democracy. Disagreements arose around this topic between representatives of the center-left space and people close to Tsipras’ new initiative.

It is significant that the new project is not being launched in an empty field, but at a time when the Greek center-left camp is looking for a new form after defeats, splits and a decline in trust. Therefore the party ΕΛΑΣ – this is not just a new sign. This is an attempt to redistribute roles in the opposition.

Editorial comment

Return Alexis Tsipras in the form of a new party is an important event, but far from unambiguous. On the one hand, the center-left camp in Greece is indeed in a state of protracted restructuring, and New Democracy For a long time, it benefited precisely from the weakness and fragmentation of the opposition.

On the other hand, Tsipras is trying to sell the public on the idea of ​​a new beginning, while remaining one of the most recognizable politicians of the old era. This is the main paradox of his project: he talks about a new Metapolitefsi, but he himself is part of the political history of the last fifteen years.

Name ΕΛΑΣ It was clearly not chosen by chance. It works on historical memory, leftist symbolism and emotional mobilization. But a name and a beautiful declaration are not enough. The main question is whether Tsipras can offer not only rhetoric against the old system, but also a convincing plan that does not look like a repetition of a route already taken.

For now, the new party looks like a serious attempt to restart the left flank and return Tsipras to the center of the political game. Whether this will result in a real alternative to the government or another project with big words and familiar faces will be shown not by slogans, but by the first political decisions.

Source link