Greece's SYRIZA votes no confidence in leader Stefanos Kasselakis
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In a secret ballot held by the Central Committee, 163 out of 286 members voted in favor of removing Kasselakis, signaling deep dissatisfaction within the party.
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The unlikely election of Miami expat and ex-Goldman Sachs banker Stefanos Kasselakis as Syriza leader in September infuriated a large segment of the party core. (AFP)
The Central Committee of Greece's main opposition party, SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left - Progressive Alliance), has voted no confidence in its leader, Stefanos Kasselakis, setting the stage for an extraordinary congress and the election of a new leader.
According to the party-affiliated newspaper Avgi, the decision came after over 100 members expressed dissatisfaction with Kasselakis' leadership, accusing him of failing to address internal issues, unite the party, and provide a clear alternative political program.
.@skasselakis : Θα φτιάξουμε Îνα κÏŒμμα των μελÏŽν, τÎλος οι φράξιες
— ΣΥΡΙΖΑ (@syriza_gr) September 7, 2024
[Εισήγηση του ΠροÎδρου του ΣΥΡΙΖΑ-ΠΣ στην Κεντρική Επιτροπή του κομμάτος - https://t.co/ZOB5Tc8hGX ]
Έμαθα νωρίς αυτÏŒ που κάποιοι ίσως δεν Îμαθαν τÏŒσα χρÏŒνια στην πολιτική: να «διαβάζω» τι θÎλει ο κÏŒσμος του… pic.twitter.com/IuPnkFxo7x
Kasselakis, a 35-year-old businessman of Greek descent, took over the party's leadership in September 2023, winning nearly 56% of the internal vote. Despite his decisive victory, his leadership quickly became contentious due to his lack of political experience, having spent much of his career in the US. His appointment sparked divisions within the party, with some members feeling that his background and approach diverged from SYRIZA's left-wing roots.
The tension within the party was further exacerbated by SYRIZA's poor performance in the June 9, 2024 European Parliament elections, where the party lost over 750,000 votes compared to the 2019 elections.
Many within SYRIZA attributed the electoral setback to Kasselakis' failure to propose a coherent political strategy or effectively manage the party's internal divisions.
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In a secret ballot held by the Central Committee, 163 out of 286 members voted in favor of removing Kasselakis, signaling deep dissatisfaction within the party. The meeting, which was broadcast on social media, was marked by an intense atmosphere and personal accusations.
This vote will now lead to an extraordinary congress where a new leader will be elected, further adding to the challenges facing SYRIZA as it seeks to rebuild its base and strengthen its position as the main opposition force in Greek politics.
Despite the internal turmoil, Kasselakis has expressed his determination to continue contributing to the party, though the future of his role remains uncertain as the leadership election approaches.
