His departure from SYRIZA and his independence from the parliamentary group was announced by former minister and current MP Evangelos Apostolakis.

THE Evangelos Apostolakis he is the first member of parliament to leave SYRIZA, a fact that is expected to open a new field of confrontation in the ranks of the party that was until recently the main opposition party.

The now independent member of parliament was by his side from the beginning Stefanou Kasselakishowever, in his statement, he does not specify whether he will join the party of the former president of SYRIZA.

Now SYRIZA remains with 27 MPs in the Parliament, while the total number of independent deputies are 23.

The former minister’s statement on his independence:

“In 2023 I accepted the proposal of SY.RI.ZA. PS to be a candidate for State Parliament, because I considered it to be a progressive party, which in practice respected the democratic traditions as well as the principles and values ​​of the Progressive party. What has happened recently has defied my expectations as democratic processes have been subordinated to practices that harken back to moments in the past that we all want to forget.

Having served the country in high positions of responsibility and knowing very well what “responsibility”, “conscience” and “honor” mean, I cannot be in a party that operates in this way. I am also sure that the majority of those who voted for it share my attitude.

My decision to remain an independent Member of Parliament and to retain my seat is fully in line with my obligation to citizens and democracy. The institution of the State Deputy ensures the overall representation of society and not small party balances. Therefore, it is my duty to continue working with ethics, transparency and dedication to the national interest, unaffected by small party expediencies.”

Telephone communication with Tsipras

According to information, Evangelos Apostolakis had a telephone conversation with Alexis Tsipras, just 24 hours before he announced his independence from SYRIZA.

The former prime minister conveyed in an absolute manner to the former minister, that especially an appointed member of parliament, when he disagrees with the party that elected him, resigns, leaving the seat, which neither politically nor morally belongs to him.

SYRIZA: “Shameful defection – To hand over the seat that does not belong to him”

SYRIZA – PS speaks of “shameful apostasy” in a statement referring to the announcement of independence by Evangelos Apostolakis.

Among other things, SYRIZA notes that Mr. Apostolakis “didn’t think about either the Party that honored him by placing him on the State Ballot, nor the voters of SYRIZA-PS” and that he “insults the choice of the members of SYRIZA-PS”. He also asks Mr. Apostolakis “even at the last moment to hand over the seat that does not belong to him, especially since SYRIZA-PS placed him on the State Ballot”.

The announcement of SYRIZA – PS in detail:

The prescribed decision of Evangelos Apostolakis ends today with his shameful apostasy. He didn’t think about the Party that honored him by placing him on the State Ballot, nor the voters of SYRIZA-PS.

And he insults the choice of SYRIZA-PS members, as he recently expressed in the presidential elections.

From now on, it will bear the mark of apostasy, trampling and insulting the popular verdict and will, as well as serving the Mitsotakis government’s aims and the entanglement, which are particularly worrying from the relaunch and strengthening of SYRIZA-PS.

He must, even at the last moment, hand over the seat that does not belong to him, especially since SYRIZA-PS placed him on the State Ballot. Otherwise, the Greek people will send him to the basket of political history. And no one is going to save him there.

Famellos – Apostolakis meeting before independence: “Why didn’t you answer the messages from the party”

The president of SYRIZA – PS Sokratis Famellos and Evangelos Apostolakis met in the afternoon at the SFEA event in the Old Parliament.

According to information, the president of SYRIZA-PS, who has been meeting all the members of KO for days, asked him why he did not respond to the messages he received in the previous period from the party.

Mr. Apostolakis allegedly avoided answering while he did not inform about his intentions and shortly after announced his departure.

Sarakiotis: As of today, I am an independent member of parliament

Ev. Apostolakis is the second independence of SYRIZA MP within a day. It was preceded early in the morning by Yannis Sarakiotis who had announced his move.

“From today I will be an independent member of parliament, I cannot pretend that I am good with SYRIZA” said G. Sarakiotis.

As he pointed out, “I cannot fathom the fact that all the previous time deputies were shooting us in the leg and closing our house”.

Yannis Sarakiotis added that “what drives me out of SYRIZA is the disrespect towards the citizens. You can’t deal with your internal party matters for 8 months and now say I’m putting a pause on them and I’ll deal with the problems of society. I didn’t stop dealing with social problems.”

“After 10 years, what matters now is to be good in my role for the people of Fthiotida. I started to be more actively involved in politics, having both a profession and a status, my priority is to be good in my role, everyone sets their priorities. I’m 41 years old and I still don’t have a family. I will continue as I believe and if I don’t continue in politics, nothing will happen”, said MP Fthiotidas.