SYRIZA leader Sokratis Famellos on Friday said that former prime minister Alexis Tsipras’ newly launched party, the Greek Left Alliance (ELAS), has generated strong progressive interest and could anchor a broader left-wing coalition.
Speaking in a television interview, Famellos noted that the new party’s founding declaration “creates the basis for a unifying perspective,” adding that “society is saying that things cannot go on like this anymore and that political change and a change in policy are needed.”
The remarks come as SYRIZA battles deep fragmentation, with multiple members reportedly weighing a defection to Tsipras’ new project. The extent of that migration remains uncertain, particularly as Tsipras has publicly sidelined several former close associates in an effort to present a revamped political roster. He has also suggested that anyone who joins the party must resign their parliamentary seat.
Reaffirming his goal for a combined progressive front, Famellos said: “My basic strategy was the unity of the progressive space. We have the same starting point. We worked together. The question now is: will we all be together? We will insist on a unifying strategy.”
Aiming to quell rising internal chaos, Famellos firmly warned against fracturing alternative agendas, declaring that “any talk of Plan B or Plan C shows a lack of commitment and consistency.” He announced he would take immediate initiatives to address the current “stagnation or ambiguity” by presenting his unifying strategy to SYRIZA’s central committee next Saturday. “Clear answers and accountability are needed,” he added.
