The process of electing delegates to SYRIZA has taken on the dimensions of a vendetta. The “hits” are back-to-back for the second day in a row and both camps show no sign of backing down.
Early Sunday morning (3/11) the statement of Manolis Kapnisakis, director of Stefanos Kasselakis’s Office, about “dozens of complaints from ordinary members” who cannot be identified despite their registration in isyriza became the spark that rekindled the new round of confrontation.
He concluded that “the right to participate in elections is fundamental and no one is authorized to take it away from party members”. He warned that “no exclusion will be accepted”.
Kasselakis: “Stop the games now”
Immediately after, the former president of SYRIZA himself took over, speaking of “hundreds of phones from all over Greece” of members who had registered on the platform, but at the same time – according to them – “they are not in the electoral states”. .
As noted by St. Kasselakis, “it is the obligation of every electorate to certify them with a phone call to the headquarters” and asked “to stop the games now”, as “we do not play with the Republic”.
At the same time, he complained that there are “ballots that do not contain our congressional candidates” and that “elected electoral committees are being overturned with other ‘convenient’ ones”.
Your attention!
We receive hundreds of phone calls from all over Greece, from members who registered through come to vote and are not in the electoral register. It is the obligation of each electorate to certify them by phone call to…— Stefanos Kasselakis (@skasselakis) November 3, 2024
That is why he chose to visit various polling stations (Pallini, Chalandri, Ampelokipos), before returning to his “headquarters” in Tavros. He had voted early in the 3rd OM of Peristeri.
“The Kasselakis complaints are non-existent, they are expressing panic”
Of course, Koumoundourou continues to fend off any such criticism, undermining the credibility and constitutional legitimacy of the process. As reported by party circles, “the process of electing delegates is progressing smoothly on the second day as well. Any problems that arise, as happens in any process, are resolved immediately.”
“The non-existent complaints of Stefanos Kasselakis have nothing to do with reality, but only aim at questioning from now on a democratic process and its result and declare panic” the same sources commented additionally.
In fact, they went on the counterattack, speaking from their side about “dozens of complaints” which “arrived in the last hours in Koumoundourou” and concern “actions on the part of Kasselakis” regarding “exclusion of congressional candidates from the ballots, non-observance of KOES circulars, appointments “dates” in the electoral commissions, even attempts at fraud”.
What happened in Thessaloniki and Lavrio
One of them was made by the partner of MP Christos Giannoulis in Thessaloniki. Ms. Maria Amanatidou filed an objection to the electoral committee of the Lower Center for the method of excluding her under the responsibility of the Kasselakis group, because according to her claims her name was not on the list of the OM, although she had submitted her candidacy on time (until 25/10) of her for conference.
An attempt to falsify the result was denounced by the majority within SYRIZA and in Lavrio. According to the information provided by witnesses, a member of the electoral committee close to St. Kasselakis was spotted casting three ballots instead of one. The person in question was excluded from the election committee.
Other outbreaks – of lesser or greater intensity – developed according to specific sources in various electoral centers (Salamina, Kozani, Koropi, Haidari), a sample of the explosive climate between the camps.
Farandouris: “No to indecency and personal insults”
Meanwhile, and meaningfully, Nikolas Farandouris explained that “democracy means rules, not indecency”. The MEP and candidate for president of SYRIZA voted for delegates in the Pallini-Geraka electoral center and immediately after that he made a point about the “personal insults” that others prefer instead of focusing on the political confrontation.
Optimistic by nature, he also observed that “with today’s vote, for the selection of our representatives at the conference, a process of reconstruction of the party and the democratic progressive faction begins”.
Svigou: “The voice of the members is heard loudly”
Much milder, but with clear messages “for a SYRIZA-PS that will move forward, with seriousness, responsibility, reliability, militancy, leaving behind introversion” was the official position of the secretary, Rania Svigou.
She explained that “with the massive and active participation of all of us, the voice of the members is heard loudly” and that “we give strength to SYRIZA-PS, ensure the democracy of the process and undermine the unity and perspective of the party”.
The president of KO, Nikos Pappas, also moved in a similar unifying way, inviting “the people to participate en masse. And now also in the election of the president of the party, which has been launched, so that we can give the answers that the progressive world expects from us”.
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