The gun went off and the start of the two-month race for the presidency of SYRIZA is in its first stages. Its starting point was the official filing of the candidacy of Pavlos Polakis to secretary Rania Svigou two days ago.
A full month before his term expired (24/10), the MP of Chania (and again the head of Transparency) was the first in history to go to the party’s headquarters to anoint himself as a contender for the leadership. He handed over the file with the required documents and, leaving, called on his fellow candidates “to do the same so that we can proceed to a confrontation of positions and programs”.
This is an orientation that also expresses Koumoundourou, in order not to drag on the unrestrained “pre-election” which is not only beneficial in the present phase, especially in a period of lack of government. “Since some will claim the vote of the members and friends of SYRIZA anyway, the sooner, I believe that it will help to communicate their proposal” urged the press representative, Pausanias Papageorgiou.
Moreover, it has already been clarified how each nomination will be facilitated in terms of its promotion.
Polakis shows his strength
P. Polakis had with him both the +30 signatures and his credentials, fulfilling the moral commitment of the candidates towards the decisions of the Central Committee. The “power game” that will take place every day in SYRIZA is not only of substance but also of impressions.
This includes, clearly, the partial leakage of selected members of the KE who signed for his candidacy. Members coming from different “camps” of intra-party competition and various regions of the territory so as to express its “diversity”. Mouzalas, Alexiadis, Kretsos, Bernardakis and Hatzisavvas were not chosen by chance – nor were they signed by chance. They are either people with a past in key positions or people who had supported Kasselakis for months but have changed course. The “chief of staff” Vassilis Sbokos is always with him.
A corresponding communication move was the moral commitment undertaken by the same members of the KE, except MEP N. Pappas, that they will not sign for another candidacy. even though they are given this right.
The first gathering
The explosive Cretan was already one step ahead of everyone else, preparing the ground for his initiative, without at the same time neglecting his parliamentary duties. After, in fact, he publicly raised the issue of leadership in SYRIZA, ultimately supporting the motion of censure against Stefanos Kasselakis, he began to appear more moderate in his reactions. He has made sure to control his instincts and act much more purposefully.
It calls for political dialogue and the presence of a specific platform. Already tomorrow Sunday (29/9), at the Chamber of Commerce of Chania, he has planned the first gathering of his pre-election campaign. Where “he will develop his programmatic positions and share with the people of Chania, as well as those citizens of Crete who attend, his vision for SYRIZA-P.S. that we want, for the Greece we deserve”.
All this punch has been recorded so far in polls, which allows him to claim something more than the role of regulatory factor in the internal party process.
Famellos expects more massive support
Sokratis Famellos hopes, of course, for the full acceptance and support of the expanded and strengthened group of 87 which is in constant contact. Olga Gerovasilis already applauded, characterizing his candidacy as a “candidacy to return to the political debate”. Without, of course, removing P. Polakis from the same equation, observing conditions of courtesy. On the contrary, “SYRIZA, as we imagine, will be finished for good” in the event that St. Kasselakis, as he warned.
The former president of the KO of SYRIZA is aware of the objections of a portion of the public attitude he maintained until the European elections towards St. Kasselakis. He explains – at every opportunity – that his institutional position was such that anything that concerned him and with which he disagreed, he transferred it to the institutions. But now that he is not committed to him in any way, he is sure that “it doesn’t go any further”, as he argued in response to a question about his intention to take the helm of the faction in his hands.
Who is he betting on?
In this effort, the deputy of Thessaloniki 2 bets on the profile of decency that he has built for a long time in order to gather more and more forces around him. “In a serious and modern party, no one is missing, no one is left out,” insists Sokr. Familiar with prefixing “we” and always speaking in the plural.
Let’s all go together!
With a sense of responsibility towards the history of the Left, I am running for President of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance.
In this effort I ask you all to participate.
To be proud of our party again!
But also why the next day… pic.twitter.com/BiJcKNGCYU— Socratis Famellos (@SFamellos) September 26, 2024
He also knows others who approve of his candidacy. “The leadership of SYRIZA should have the characteristics of unity and collectivity, synthesis, addition, multiplication, not subtraction. These goals will be realized with the candidacy of Famellos” said Dionysis Kalamatianos in this regard.
“I consider that the most ideal candidate for SYRIZA to remain on a creative path is Sokratis Famellos,” argued Christos Giannoulis publicly. He had long made his intentions known. The same applies to Katerina Notopoulou, Costas Zachariadis, George Vassiliadis and George Psychogios, executives who belong to the prominent SYRIZA. There are other faces close to them. As will probably happen with the “wise man” of the party, Alekos Flambouraris.
“I would like to propose a larger majority faction in society” is one of the central positions of Socrates Famellos. A position that all the aforementioned also embrace for the future, accusing the former president of the opposite.
What S. Famellos made sure not to do was talk about “anointing” on behalf of Alexis Tsipras, despite the warm embrace they had a few days ago. He didn’t intend to expose or be exposed, especially at this early stage.
Kasselakis in a waiting position
Stefanos Kasselakis’ “guard of support” consists of a large part of the parliamentary group (Akrita, P. Pappas, Christidou, Kasimati, Avlonitis) with simultaneous enclaves, of lower scope, within the Central Committee.
Second Piraeus Member of Parliament Nina Kasimati reiterated that, for political reasons, “I have sided with the president-elect”, as he is the person who “has a fresh mandate from the grassroots” in the face of “a permanent internal party dispute, which also involves you are driven by a proprietary logic.” He also welcomed every other nomination, referring everyone to the conference (November 1-3) which “will have as its object the announcement of new nominations”.
Olympia Teligioridou also belongs to the same group, constituting together with Theodora Tzakri the remaining “voices” for St. Kasselakis at the Political Secretariat. The MP from Pella, who has not stopped standing by his side for a year, overemphasized the ousted president’s lead in the polls. “There is not a single poll in which Stefanos Kasselakis does not have a clear lead,” he said.
Justified, one would argue, the positioning of Mr. Tzakri since one after the other polls put the 36-year-old politician in a favorite position among SYRIZA voters.
He prefers direct contact with the world
For now, however, St. Kasselakis prefers a gentler approach. Nor is he in a hurry to officially position himself since he has until October 24 to present the documents. He lets others pave the way for him.
After re-emerging with “his SYRIZA” he prefers to act rather than talk. Last Saturday he was in Arta, then he went to Tripoli, on Friday he visited a robotics factory in Schimatari, but also the AT of Agios Panteleimonas to learn about the death of the Pakistani immigrant, Mohammed Kamran Asik. It was the first time that he was even appointed, openly questioning the claims of EL.AS.
St. collects vibes from the world. Kasselakis, hearing them call him president, keeps his mouth shut and plans his next moves. For others, his opponents, “silence” has been perceived as an awkward attitude. An attitude which, according to the same sources, refers to someone who is very afraid of making mistakes. His staff say that everything will be done at the right time and not under pressure from third parties.
Nikos Pappas keeps his distance
In this fluid setting of intense confrontation and very delicate balances, Nikos Pappas chose not to apply the tactic of openly supporting a candidate. Each would seek a helping hand of his own, a contribution to this struggle. His influence on things is useful for everyone.
However, he himself, after clarifying that “I will not be a candidate” in order to stop the paraphilology, explained that he will make sure to serve “with absolute dedication the institutional role with which my colleagues, male and female deputies honored me”. That of the president of KO with the increased – at this time – responsibilities. Otherwise, “there should automatically be a change in the parliamentary group”, as he emphasized.
Not that he doesn’t have an opinion. He will simply keep it to himself in the hope that candidates will “explain how they will implement our collective decisions”. Of course, none of them will be given a blank check. But neither does it intend to influence, one way or the other, the result.
“If we let the conversation descend into a clash of personalities we will have done ourselves a disservice,” he claimed, urging those running for leadership to address “very central political issues.” He even suggested “to discuss these publicly, to politicize the conversation and to get away from absolutisms”.
The most likely version for the debate
In fact, he himself took part in a candidate debate. It is a proposal that since it was put in the public debate by Chr. Giannoulis, a result of the communication profit of PaSoK, is constantly reproduced.
“Opinions must be heard and not closed in the offices, the discussion must take place outside” commented Sokratis Famellos. He believes that in such a demanding political conversation, Stefanos Kasselakis will lose points due to his lack of left-wing background.
And the “camp” of P. Polakis is not negative in holding a telefight. Conditionally, of course.
Koumoundourou would very much like to proceed with such a plan. He could prioritize in this case political culture over introversion so that he wins communicatively. Simply until it is clarified who will be the candidates for the presidency, it is not possible to organize something similar to PaSoK in ERT.
After the conference is over, that is, during the first ten days of November, it will be much more feasible and logical to plan the coexistence of the contenders. Simply then the conflict will be at its height and the chances of agreement in the framework will have decreased.
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