“It is a very demanding period, with many trips and many meetings, but I see smiles now in our party base” pointed out the deputy and candidate for president of SYRIZA, Socrates Famous just a few 24 hours before the internal party ballot for the presidency of the party.

As he said, “yesterday there was a very big concern, because I think that the departures of Theodora Tzakri and Iota Poulos were connected and planned after the debate, which created a question as to whether seriousness is returning to SYRIZA. I consider this development very problematic and it is very negative that the side of the ousted president is using the arguments of the anti-SYRIZA front to hurt both SYRIZA and the government of Alexis Tsipras. He thus draws a conclusion that not only did he never love SYRIZA, but he wanted to alter or change or abolish this identity of SYRIZA.”

“On the Left we have a perception of supporting the party”

Regarding the complaints that he was one of those who showed support for Stefanos Kasselakis for the presidency, Mr. Famellos clarified that “we have a perception in the Left that we support the party”.

“I, for example, did not take a position for any candidate. And as the president of a Parliamentary Group I owed it, but I also practically tell you to know it. When he came on the first day, I made it clear that I respect the party and its processes and I also respect the democratic election. However, his election raises questions, because a man who came for the first time created such a trend and a request to “change everything”, without knowing exactly what it is that needs to be changed. I disagreed with him last year at the Congress with the concept of “find me an opponent and let’s go”. On the contrary, we need a new SYRIZA that will not have the deficits that led to the phenomena of recent years.”

To a question about Alexis Tsipras, he answered that SYRIZA was not only Alexis Tsipras, while adding that Greece needs parties with a progressive starting point, which have not served austerity policies and are non-aligned. I would say that SYRIZA is the only such party. I believe that we are the only opponent of power.”