Cretan MP Pavlos Polakis has withdrawn his candidacy for the presidency of SYRIZA’s parliamentary group, leaving Rena Dourou as the only candidate.
In a statement on social media, Polakis said he had taken the decision because the conditions he considered necessary for a clear leadership solution did not exist.
He cited internal divisions within the party, including the recent decision – since rescinded – by SYRIZA’s central committee to support Alexis Tsipras’ newly established Greek Left Alliance (ELAS), which he said had contributed to the party’s decline in opinion polls.
Polakis also questioned whether some MPs’ reported plans to become independents or resign their seats, and threats of further resignations, were compatible with party unity.
“Do we really have the luxury, in a parliamentary group of eight MPs, to have two candidacies?” he asked.
