After him Stefano Tzumakasubmitted a candidacy for the leadership of SYRIZA Nikos Pappas, whose candidacy is added to the candidacies announced in the previous days by Efi Ahtsioglou and Euclid Tsakalotos.
“Today we are starting a project of a new victorious course, I will serve the unity of the party with all my powers”, emphasized Nikos Pappas during his speech at the Central Committee Meeting of the party.

As Mr. Pappas underlined, “the position of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance in the political scene and its usefulness for the country is to constitute the alternative proposal of governance. We are the only prospect of removing the Mitsotakis government from power.”

“Our compass is our updated identity, as described in our declaration. It is clear and not at all blurry,” he added.

From the side of Pavlos Polakis he made it clear that he will not be a candidate unless the road map is changed as he disagrees with the procedure being followed, calling it “fast track” and apologized to the party members.

Specifically, Pavlos Polakis stated: “I apologize to countless executives, members and friends of SYRIZA who throughout the last period motivated me to run for office, regardless of the process and in any case. Unfortunately or fortunately, I have not learned to go against my conscience and opinions and for that reason I cannot be a candidate in a fast track process, which I do not believe will help SYRIZA – PS. I will not be a candidate unless the road map changes.”

In detail, parts of Nikos Pappa’s speech at the meeting of the K.E. of SYRIZA:

Alexis Tsipras was the president of the party for 15 years. Friend, companion and fellow traveler for all of us.
Under his party leadership, the faction came to claim and win governance.
And it is credited, beyond any doubt, that he adequately utilized all the political and ideological arsenal of our space.
At the right times. Which were not one and two. They were consecutive.
—–
Turkey is a revisionist power. And the worst thing we have to do as a country is to leave a window for solutions outside the framework of international law. Not only to defend our national interests. But also peace in the region.
The strategy, the doctrine of the “Blue Homeland” does not only affect our national interests. It also threatens stability in the region. The peaceful coexistence and co-development of all the peoples of the region.
We make the following clear: We will neither betray nor hand over the patriotism of the left and progressive world. Not only because this faction has defended the homeland and democracy with sacrifices, exiles and imprisonments. But also why during our government the country was upgraded internationally. With the resolution of the Macedonian issue and the Prespa Agreement, the initiatives in the Balkans, the summit of the European south, the tripartite of the south-eastern Mediterranean and, of course, the management of the huge refugee flows at the beginning of our government.
—–
Our compass is our updated identity, as described in our declaration. It is clear and not blurry at all.
We express and rally the whole world from the left to the progressive center.
Any folding of us into the “nest” of the radical left alone would be a big mistake.
The period of simple analog is over. In an environment of enhanced proportionality, only factions expressing a broad spectrum of forces can win elections.
So, if our declaration was once relevant when we adopted it, it is many times more relevant now, in an environment of enhanced analog.
This faction does not have owners and tenants, it has equal fighters and fighters who each and every one of them proudly carries in their luggage, their march and struggles for progress and democracy in our country.
—–
Our gaze must be on society and not within ourselves.
The position of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance in the political scene and its usefulness for the country is to constitute the alternative proposal of governance.
We are the only prospect of removing the Mitsotakis government from power.

Anything less does not correspond to the expectations of the citizens who voted for us or will vote for us again, but also every citizen who anxiously follows the developments, looking for a political way out.
—–
Therefore we should set goals:
• To redefine ourselves as a force of positive outlook. The left and the democratic progressive faction must embody and express the positive expectations of the people. Expectations for better life and social mobility. The image of a good negotiator is not enough for the Greek people to trust us again.
• To convince, something we haven’t managed to do so far, that very harsh memorial policies, which were imposed on us, were not our program.
• To win back the moderate voters of the center and center-left who made other choices.
• To win back the youth who for the first time in recent years chose, by majority, the N.D.
• To reconstitute the 2015 electoral alliance between wage earners and the middle class that brought us into government.
• To gain influence in trade unions, self-government, and small and medium-sized businesses.

Let’s talk about production restructuring and a new production model. But this does not exist if the way of financing the Greek economy does not change and the exclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises from all financial tools is not lifted.
—–
Comrades and comrades.
These are the priorities that I believe we need to develop. To make clear choices. To serve them with unity. And from the day after the election we will all be together.
I have been serving this party since I started to understand politics.
But I do not feel more SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance than anyone and none of the comrades we have converged on a common path in recent years.
I will fight with all my strength so that no owner and no tenant feels.
I will serve the unity of the party with all my strength.

I am speaking to you humanly and not just politically.
I did not imagine that the moment would come when I would stand on the platform of its central committee and say these words.
With a sense of responsibility and humility, therefore, I submit my candidacy for the presidency of the party before the Central Committee.
The tasks and struggles that await us are again many and many. Our debt is also great.
Today we are taking the first step of a great counterattack by the country’s progressive world.
Today we begin a venture of a new victorious course.

Citizens expect nothing less from us. We will not let them down.