alexis tsipras

The former Greek prime minister, a polarizing figure in Greek politics, has resigned his MP seat to "return to the hopeful uncertainty of social struggle", hinting at a fresh movement beyond SYRIZA

The balance of the election and the fear of electoral losses due to Polakis prodded the entire SYRIZA party and its Political Secretariat unanimously to embrace him once again.

Citizens be more interested in the cost of living than the machinations of a former minister or the wiretapping of the phone of a party leader, but affairs often follow their own rules.

Questions have also been raised about the prosecutor attached to EYP, Vasiliki Vlachou, as it is unclear under what criteria she could have ordered the surveillance of a Greek politician.

The announcement from the PM’s office said that the spy chief’s resignation was due to ‘wrong actions’ in the context of legal surveillance of Androulakis with a prosecutor’s order.

The death of renowned journalist and publisher Stavros Psycharis formally signals the end of an era, or at least of a circle of “press people” who changed Greek journalism and wielded political influence.

What was missing in SYRIZA's recent convention and the post-convention activity was a comprehensive, honest review of the party's record while in power.

The current major geopolitical and economic challenges have unfortunately once again brought populism to the fore in many Western societies.

SYRIZA is a large party and its leadership intends to restructure it, in order to increase its prospects of coming to power and in order to abandon foolishness, verbalism, and grandiose rhetoric.

Will Syriza continue with the same opposition tack as it has adopted so far, and if so what would be the purpose of a debate? What is the special circumstance that would vanish after a single debate?

As long as SYRIZA continues to appeal mainly to the emotions of the public, both PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and centre-left KINAL leader Nikos Androulakis have an opportunity to gain ground among centrist voters.

It would be a welcome change as if those who bear responsibility for tragedies in which many people died when they were in power [SYRIZA], and for an ensuing cover-up operation, exhibited greater self-awareness and modesty.

The dysfunction and acrobatics of SYRIZA is due to the party’s being out of touch with the contemporary needs of Greek society. It often seems entrenched in skirmishes between closed groups and factions that are reminiscent of a bygone era.

SYRIZA’s spokesman reiterated proposals for a minimum wage hike, lowering the special consumption tax, and intervention in the pricing of the Public Power Corporation (PPC) in order to stem inflation.

'Mr. Tsipras is obliged to cite even one doctor who decided who would be admitted to an ICU based on a political order. otherwise he will prove that slander and vulgarity is the only kind of opposition he has left.'

Government spokesman Yannis Economou charged that SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras is trying to shift the political agenda, as he has decided that SYRIZA on 7 October will not vote to ratify the recent Greece-France strategic partnership agreement unless it is revised, which is out of the question.

As for Mr. Tsipras' commitment that he will form a “progressive government”, it comes across as provocative when coming from a person who for four years ruled with the [right-wing populist] Independent Greeks party as his junior coalition partner.

The debate that was triggered yesterday by the conviction of Golden Dawn as a criminal organisation once again highlights the grey zones in which Mr. Tsipras’ government operated.

Alexis Tsipras is attempting to organise an autarchic party with a hegemonic leader along the lines of Pasok’s model of governance in the 1980’s under Andreas Papandreou.

A courageous and bold party should not have needed [SYRIZA MP and ex-education minister] Nikos Filis to defend its history.

Certain groups and networks undoubtedly acted in an extra-institutional manner, set up cases and blackmail, manufactured guilty persons, and sought to place liens and to take people hostage – to neutralise people they wanted as potential competitors for power.

The programme presented by Mr. Tsipras yesterday at Zappeion Hall in Athens is an exercise in readiness and an act that entails responsibilities to the Greek people.

"We disagree with New Democracy's growth model and we believe it can't lead us to growth" Tsipras said.

Clearly the arrogant Mr. Johnson fears nothing and nobody and is acting on the basis of his self-deceptions and illusions.

The debate centred exclusively on the personal choices of the two party leaders rather than on broader institutional and national issues.