Expelled ex-SYRIZA President Stefanos Kasselakis has officially unveiled the name of his new political party, “Movement for Democracy,” during an event hosted at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation in Athens on Saturday afternoon.

The event also featured the presentation of the party’s founding declaration, outlining its principles and objectives.

Arriving at the venue, Kasselakis greeted his supporters warmly, saying, “You became the movement, and today we become a party.” He emphasized the binding nature of the founding declaration, contrasting it with what he described as a gap between rhetoric and action in existing political parties, specifically naming New Democracy.

“The new is born; it doesn’t fall from the sky,” Kasselakis remarked, underscoring the grassroots nature of his initiative. He referenced figures and moments emblematic of Greece’s democratic and progressive history, including Manolis Glezos, the Polytechnic uprising, the 1981 national reconciliation, and the left-wing aspirations of 2015.

Kasselakis described his party as a “boldly democratic” organization where every voice matters. “What the base decides through voting will not be overturned by the leadership,” he stated, adding that the party aims to embody the values of the modern center-left.
Some of the new party’s key principles:

  • Participatory Democracy: Kasselakis stressed the importance of direct involvement, proposing local referendums as a means to address various issues.
  • Meritocracy Over Dynasties: He called for political mobility that challenges entrenched family-based politics.
  • Empowered Membership: Party members and supporters will have the power to choose their president and candidates, fostering trust and transparency.

He framed the new party as a response to the delayed emergence of a 21st-century center-left in Greece, which he said has lagged by 24 years. Kasselakis also advocated for the renewal of center-left values, integrating contemporary ideals such as inclusivity and accessible culture.
“We are the center-left of the 21st century,” he declared, emphasizing the need for new values to complement traditional ones.