In the aftermath of the tumultuous three days within the SYRIZA party, the decision has been made: no new elections for the position of party president. This conclusion followed a proposal by Socrates Famellos, Nikos Pappas, and George Tsipras to postpone the internal party elections. The proposal gained acceptance amid intense debates, especially in light of the apparent tension between Stefanos Kasselakis and Olga Gerovasili regarding their stance on the proposal.
“Masks Off: No Elections, We Go Forward,” declared Stefanos Kasselakis after the SYRIZA congress vote. Socrates Famellos, head of the party’s Central Committee, expressed the view that the party should avoid delving into a new cycle of introspection, stating, “We don’t need a new election for the party president.” According to Famellos, the congress reaffirmed its trust in President Stefanos Kasselakis and issued a directive for the party to unite for upcoming political and electoral battles, starting with the European elections, maintaining a unified political approach.
Famellos continued by announcing the reformation of the Executive Office from Monday onwards, empowered to craft proposals for the transformation of the party. “This is a proposal that propels our party forward,” he emphasized.
Immediately after Kasselakis’s address, Olga Gerovasili spoke, asserting that “the party should not enter a new cycle of self-absorption,” therefore, “there is no need for a new presidential election.” She added that the congress “affirms its trust in President Stefanos Kasselakis.” Furthermore, she stated that the Executive Office would be reconstituted to process proposals for the party’s transformation.
Contrary to the claims made by Kasselakis’s supporters, Gerovasili insisted that she did not withdraw her candidacy. “I never withdrew my candidacy; it is submitted, and I won’t work against the statute,” she emphasized.
The intricate dynamics unfolded further as Gerovasili questioned the procedure, asking why the other two proposals were not put to a vote. She insinuated that the decision to vote on Famellos’s proposal first was a strategic move to avoid the rejection of the president’s proposal.
In a dialogue between Kasselakis and Gerovasili, the former stated, “Masks have fallen, we are not heading for elections; we move forward.” Gerovasili responded, highlighting Kasselakis’s earlier statement to “find an opponent for me,” adding, “If you withdraw it, we stop here. Otherwise, I will never violate the party’s statute.”
The culmination of this internal struggle signifies a pivotal moment for SYRIZA’s direction, with Kasselakis affirmed as the party leader and the promise of a transformed future on the horizon.
