“The critical political issue is to not only have a person selected for the leadership, but a strong party grounded in society and a comprehensive political proposal and at the same time make the necessary changes and correct mistakes and omissions,” said the president of the Parliamentary Group of SYRIZA-PS, Socrates Famous in an interview on ALPHA TV referring to the procedures that have opened in the party after the resignation of Alexis Tsipras.

In relation to the number of possible nominations, he said that “although in the past there was only one nomination of Alexis Tsipras, plurality is not bad, but the important thing is to connect the nominations with the proposals on the next day of SYRIZA.

Regarding the schedule for the election of the leader and the holding of the Congress, Mr. Famellos said that “The Central Committee that will meet at the weekend will decide.” He also noted that “After the shock of Tsipras leaving, SYRIZA quickly completed the procedures that will lead to proposals for the leadership. The Central Committee will decide the timetable for the nominations. What is required and displayed by all is seriousness and modesty. We must respect the anxiety of the people and the stake of the election”.

Mr. Famellos avoided ruling out the possibility of being a candidate himself. To the relevant question, he answered: “Both I and the Parliamentary Group’s presidium undertook a difficult task to represent the party in Program Statements and to make decisions about the parliamentary function. I want to respect this order and not involve it in personal pursuit. I don’t involve my role with personal pursuits.”

Referring to Alexis Tsipras, he said: “Alexis Tsipras is an important political capital for Greece, he should not be wasted, additional proof is the way he left to pave the way for SYRIZA. As for his role, he himself will choose. He will not walk away from this fight. We participate for ideas and not for chairs. Alexis Tsipras cannot but have political views. He may not be a daily presence but I don’t think he can retire at this age.”

To a question about the Local Government elections, Mr. Famellos replied: “For SYRIZA, it is not right to have party candidates. Of course we will support candidates in some big cities and some self-governing schemes. But the issue is whether we will have self-government.” He also left open the issue of the proposal to the municipality of Athens and what will happen with the candidacy of basketball player Nikos Pappas. “I am not aware of any progress in the discussion about Nikos Pappa, we are also discussing new proposals,” he said characteristically.

He referred to the Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting saying: “It is a critical meeting, we are following it carefully, we saw with concern the statements of American President Biden. The solution to the issues is not a weapons hunt in our neighborhood. There must be clear rules. Turkey should sit at the negotiation table wisely without tensions. What would we ask for? There should be a commitment from Turkey for a recession without tensions”.

In closing, Mr. Famellos underlined that the SYRIZA he has returned with three main elements, the opposition for the benefit of society, the planning of a comprehensive proposal for the next day and concern and interest in the issues of society and the rule of law.