Greek main opposition: The first tremors in the SYRIZA parliamentary group

An intra-party truce may have appeared in main opposition SYRIZA after the election of Stefanos Kasselakis to the presidency of the party, however, yesterday, the first warning shots were indirectly recorded as the proposal that went down to the Parliamentary Group for the new positions was voted by 28 MPs while 16 were cast blank votes.

The upgraded role assumed by Pavlos Polakis, that of Parliamentary Project Committee Coordinator, seems to have been one of the foci of disagreement of a strong minority within SYRIZA that was recorded yesterday. However, it was not the only one, as Thanasis Theocharopoulos had previously been replaced from the position of parliamentary Group director without his being informed, which was also done with the party’s press representative Stergios Kalpakis.

In the distribution of the new positions announced yesterday, Theodora Tzakri takes over as new secretary of the SYRIZA Committee, Nikos Pappas, Theofilos Xanthopoulos and Dionysis Kalamatianos were appointed as parliamentary representatives, while Giorgos Tsipras takes over as director of the Committee.

The new department heads in the party will be announced next week, with names such as Karameros, Sarakiotis, Mamoulakis and Meikopoulos being favorites for specific positions.

Who cast the blanc votes

According to information, the blanc vote was chosen by the executives of the group “6 plus 6” (Alexis Haritsis, Nasos Iliopoulos and others), who supported Efi Ahtsioglou in the internal party elections of SYRIZA, as well as cadres belonging to the “Umbrella” faction.

In addition, according to information, Olga Gerovasili, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, Euclides Tsakalotos, Giorgos Psychogios, Peti Perkas, Meropi Tzoufi, Efi Ahtsioglou, Kostas Barkas, Theano Fotiou, Sia Anagnostopoulou, Marina Kontotoli, Osgyur Ferhat and Hussain Zeibek also cast blanc votes.

The upgraded role of firebrand Pavlos Polakis, however, also caused a reaction from ruling New Democracy which, through the party’s press representative Nikos Romanos, reported that “the new leader of SYRIZA, Mr. Kasselakis, appointed Mr. Polakis super-coordinator of the party’s department heads, obviously cashing in on his warm support, but at the same time showing how he sees the future of SYRIZA: toxic, divisive, based on the most worn out materials of the past”.

Kasselakis all-out attack on the government

Earlier yesterday, Stefanos Kasselakis launched a scathing attack on the government and Kyriakos Mitsotakis personally.

The new president of SYRIZA, speaking to his parliamentary group, attacked the government using harsh descriptions.

“We are 48 in this room, we should be many more, but what matters is who we have in the present composition and this is where I believe our great advantage lies,” he emphasized adding, “Instead of apologizing for the disaster, they ridiculed Giorgos Ioakeimidis, but also me personally with elementary school children’s puns – “Famellakis”…

Otherwise, we’re the toxic ones, not them, the windbags who can’t solve any of society’s problems.

Instead of the relief promised by Mr. Mitsotakis, all they have for the citizens are slaps in the face. And they and their leader, who does not dare to disown them, should be ashamed.”

At another point he emphasized that “we are the 48 against the “excellent” 158. I am sure that there are also honest and serious MPs in New Democracy. But at the end of the day they are facing their conscience when they applaud the government.”