The quiet manner in which the meeting of the Political Secretariat of SYRIZA was concluded on Thursday night suggested that a “golden intersection” had been found between the camps. How everyone in the room poured a little water into their wine in order for the process to proceed, at least. There was no room for another postponement.
On the one hand, with an increased majority, the proposed dates for the extraordinary congress and the elections were not changed. On the other hand, there was no insistence on proposing conditions and terms of nominations for claiming the presidency of the party. No scheming and machinations, no intrigues, torpedoes or embargoes.
A head-on collision is coming
So far “all good, all flourishing”. Except that SYRIZA was not and will not be a nice atmosphere. It seems more like a strategic move for both sides to retreat at the given moment before the all-out conflict that will inevitably follow in order to lead to the “settling of scores”.
Under the condition of the exceptionally scheduled Central Committee, which will approve or reject the proposal, SYRIZA is entering, as everyone advocates, a two-month period of extreme polarization. The prize for the winner who emerges unscathed is the leadership of the party. The first stop is the congress of gladiators (1-3 November) and the final station is the ballot box (24/11 and 1/12).
Kasselakis with the air of a favorite
Apparently, Stefanos Kasselakis is one of the favored ones of what was agreed at the Political Secretariat. Since the entry form for the race is not changed, the 30 signatures from members of the Central Committee will be found without effort – unlike last year.
Bonds and loans are only moral barriers and not real obstacles. They are not holding back a candidacy that, barring the unexpected, will be announced immediately after the road map is ratified. According to information, he will be the one who will open the circle of direct confrontation with the “interests within the party” that will precisely lead it to liquidation.
The ousted president of SYRIZA has shown that he does not hesitate to constantly open fronts and will continue accordingly. The measurements that are published at regular intervals also allow him to do so.
The most recent, last night’s MRB, showed him in first place in all categories of SYRIZA voters. In fact, to those who declared that they would definitely or rather participate in the internal party process, St. Kasselakis dominates with 40.5%.
The 36-year-old politician is also aware that he controls the largest part of the prefectures, while popular executives/MPs or members still openly support him. It is this evidence that convinced him to pursue the recapture of the chieftainship.
He hesitated, but gave up the thought of anything other than zero. Something else that would take time, it does not have an organization, nor parliamentary power, and it would be a big risk.
The 87 will leave nothing to chance
That the “block of 87” agreed to maintain the same framework for the submission of nominations does not negate the “war” that will gradually develop. The first attempt at a show of force will be made even within the Central Committee. The power and influence of the “anti-cash” wing had expanded since last time and although a repeat of a 163-120 sweep is not possible, the trend will be seen.
It is even widely circulated that even before the nomination of a candidate, a nationwide support mechanism is being organized for the person who will come forward as a rival in order to increase the number of voters. The mistakes of 2023 do not intend to repeat them, leaving the field unguarded for “conquest”.
It is certain, among other things, that throughout this 60-day journey, a great effort will be made to promote the political discourse, over the post-political one, and to overemphasize the great differences in direction. Especially at the three-day conference, it will be an opportunity to contrast positions and programs. It is an area that the “old presidents” consider to be clearly superior and can serve it adequately.
Polakis is not a negligible opponent
There is no possibility that Pavlos Polakis will be removed from this equation of the three, who – having already announced that he will be a candidate – is measured very high in the opinion polls. In the post he made shortly after the end of the PG, he revealed his intentions. Neither with one nor with the other.
Its path is completely autonomous. His style will be harsh and critical, as always. Even if it has softened a bit. “I don’t care a small SYRIZA without structures with a person-centered function which will deal with rights only or a small SYRIZA who will be looking to “stick” to othershe wrote.
In any case, he believes that “the world of SYRIZA has not gone elsewhere”. So there is the potential to regroup. That is why, according to him, the 6-7% attributed to the party by pollsters does not correspond to reality.
His people are already working to expand his forces across the territory. Compared to St. Kasselakis, the man who helped him more than anyone else to be elected, has an advantage. Since he is among the two to make it to the second round, it is almost a given that he will have the support of those left out.
The “87” do not want, in any case, the leadership to pass into the hands of the former again. In this version, their departure will be the only way out. And that’s why no one will enter the process of committing to their future, no matter how much Polakis puts pressure on all sides for this.
The Pappas factor and the other candidates
Of course, the role of Nikos Pappas in another internal party process will be catalytic. As last year, as at the conference, as during the previous KE. And if from the position of the president of KO he carries the burden of the overall representation of SYRIZA, when he judges that the moment is right, he will make sure to communicate his intentions.
If another candidacy emerges, besides the well-known one of Apostolos Gletsos, as MEP Nikolas Faradouris said, its influence on subsequent developments will depend on the total percentage it receives in the first round. From then on, everyone will move of their own accord and as their inner self dictates. As the theorists insist on saying “on the Left there are no dead ends”…
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