A few hours before SYRIZA ’s congress, its former president dropped hints about forming a new political party.
“It is a shame what is happening in SYRIZA with the delegates. SYRIZA does not exist as we knew it,” said Stefanos Kasselakis speaking on Friday morning to MEGA television hosts.
Kasselakis described SYRIZA as an “anti-democratic party” and said that he would leave the party if he was excluded from the congress.
He even referred to the creation of a new party. “Obviously I will not remain in an anti-democratic party, I’m getting suggestions to form my own party,” he said.
Kasselakis was ousted as SYRIZA party president after a vote of no confidence in September. Kasselakis expressed intent to run again, but his candidacy was barred amid infighting in early October. Kasselakis has since responded defiantly, urging supporters to remain in the party and push for change in this weekend’s party congress, even creating a website to collect a list of supporters and a leasing office space for his camp. He has previously denied allegations that he is forming his own political party.
Last weekend the party held the delegate elections for this weekend’s congress. Party central committee officials told media that they had secured around 65% of delegates, asserting their control over the congress agenda and again routing Stefanos Kasselakis’ leadership ambitions. Stefanos Kasselakis, however, rejected these results as “fake.”
Speaking on MEGA on Friday, Kasselakis claimed that people thanked him for his ongoing sparring with the party, and for “pulling back the curtain so we see who we have been supporting all these years”.
When asked which SYRIZA MPs would support him and the attitude they would have if he leaves the party, he responded by saying “let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
