Kasselakis: Appointed Pappas as president and “hardline Kasselakis” supporters in parliament, demands MPs commit not to switch parties

In a clear message to the internal dynamics of SYRIZA Progressive Alliance (SYRIZA PS) during his online address at the Parliamentary Group meeting, Stefanos Kasselakis proposed Nikos Pappas as the new head of the Parliamentary Group and appointed hardline supporters of his to parliamentary positions.

“Anyone attempting to deprive SYRIZA of its role as the official opposition, which was granted by the Greek people in the 2023 elections and reaffirmed in the 2024 European elections, will commit the greatest democratic offense: the distortion of citizens’ votes regarding parliamentary representation of parties. They will bear this stigma forever,” Kasselakis stated in his speech, challenging senior members to reveal their positions.

“The crude diversion promoted by New Democracy’s propaganda through attacks on me cannot continue to be fueled by our own members,” Kasselakis emphasized, noting that “the sickness in today’s public dialogue can in no way continue to mislead us.”

“I call on all of you to step forward. To produce legislative proposals for society. To ensure the unity of SYRIZA as the elected representatives of the people. With a clear public commitment from everyone that they will not leave for any ‘new entity’ without popular legitimacy,” Kasselakis said meaningfully. He also addressed the issue of bullying against MPs, advising, “I recommend calmness, distinguishing the significant from the trivial, and tolerance. We are politicians, and politicians are judged very harshly and often very unfairly in the public sphere.”

Pappas’s Appointment as Famelos’s Successor

Stefanos Kasselakis appointed Nikos Pappas as the head of SYRIZA’s Parliamentary Group, aiming to control the dynamics within the Central Committee of SYRIZA. This move comes as Pavlos Polakis has announced he will submit a motion of no confidence to initiate procedures for electing a new party president.

With significant changes to the presidium of the Parliamentary Group of SYRIZA PS, the closed-door meeting of the party’s Parliamentary Group began, as Kasselakis made selections from his circle of staunch supporters.

The new parliamentary representatives are:

• Yiannis Sarakioitis
• Nina Kassimati
• George Gavrilis

Replacing:

• Nikos Pappas
• Theofilos Xanthopoulos
• Dionysis Kalamatiadis

The new Deputy Parliamentary Representative is Vasilis Kokkalis, and the Coordinator of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Policy is Giota Poulou. The Deputy Coordinator remains Rallia Christidou.

Disagreement

Notably, Socrates Famellos openly disagreed with SYRIZA PS President Stefanos Kasselakis during the meeting of the Central Committee in July, when the issue of postponing the October Congress was raised.

Furthermore, Socrates Famellos’s name was strongly mentioned in case a leadership race opened following a motion of no confidence.

Kasselakis’s Speech:

Dear MPs,

Greetings from my beloved Crete, from my favorite Chania, where you all know why I am here.

I am proud to belong to a party that does not apologize for its progressive views on human rights. A party that is not afraid to speak out against harmful agreements tied to state-dependent corruption. A party that exposes the propaganda of the “administrative state” with its fires, floods, and railway crimes.

A party that does not speak in half-measures about the immediate recognition of the State of Palestine but stands by it.

A party that does not allow secret diplomacy with Turkey and does not bow to America’s military interests. And I say this with full awareness, having lived over half of my life there.

Against us stands a New Democracy with secret debt arrangements and advisors paid from sources outside the party.

The epitome of cronyism, led by a family whose assets (excluding the source) started in the 1960s but curiously ended three years ago.

It is not the story of a political family but of a family political system that begins with the Apostasy, which led to the Junta, goes through the dirty ’89, and reaches the sickly 2024 of our country’s complete decline.

Our party embodies the great history of the place, of the Left, of the great progressive movement for democracy and progress.

That is why it can be independent and fight for our weaker fellow citizens. The country does not need a nebulous “center” without moral and philosophical direction.

“Centrist voters” are not necessarily those who want half-measures to political problems. They simply want realism, decisiveness, and solutions. Without ideological dogmas that have led SYRIZA to continuous splits since its founding in 2004.

Without guardians of leftism and leftist metrics, who have driven away and continue to drive away thousands of citizens who came to contribute but found closed doors.

A critical point is the split of the “New Left” group which had no political stake, only defeated “Egos.” The Greek people showed with their vote to this group, which was the majority of the ministerial council and the party mechanism, that they are not deceived. There is much greater transparency and speed of information today, and the Greek people, as well as the SYRIZA base, know very well who is fighting for them selflessly.

However, there is a difference between information and online slaughter. And since we are now experiencing the absurdity of a kindergarten where the same child who slaps then points to another child saying, “teacher, he slapped me,” I will tell you something that will calm you all:

There is no politician who endures more online bullying than I do. And not only from truth groups and far-right trolls. You all understand very well what I mean.

So, I recommend calmness, distinguishing the important from the insignificant, and tolerance. We are politicians. And politicians are judged very harshly and often very unfairly in the public sphere.

The sickness in today’s public dialogue can in no way continue to mislead us from the very important work we have to perform as a Parliamentary Group in the new session that begins. I emphasize this because it is happening up to now. Every significant political proposal of ours is overshadowed by gossip.

The crude diversion promoted by New Democracy’s propaganda through attacks on me cannot continue to be fueled by our own members.

It is our job to scrutinize in Parliament and propose to society.

The New Democracy’s obsession with SYRIZA and with me shows exactly whom they fear. We will not do them the favor.

I therefore call on you to step forward. To produce legislative proposals for society. To ensure the unity of SYRIZA as the elected representatives of the people.

With a clear public commitment from everyone that they will not leave for any “new entity” without popular legitimacy.

It is clear: Anyone who attempts to deprive SYRIZA of its role as the official opposition, which was granted by the Greek people in the 2023 elections and reaffirmed in the 2024 European elections, will commit the greatest democratic offense: the distortion of citizens’ votes regarding parliamentary representation of parties. And they will bear this stigma forever. Not from me. From the Greek people.

I also call on everyone to make a clear commitment to abide by the decisions of SYRIZA’s members, the Congress, the Central Committee—all these successive decisions that have authorized me to lead the effort to restore SYRIZA and create a large progressive governing party with an eye on the national elections.

I am determined to proceed with the fighting spirit and above all with the values of the Left. For a government of Modern Left—a term that resonates throughout the country, across all social strata, with a focus on our weakest fellow citizens and the environment.

I am determined to embark on a new path of outreach, with a modern SYRIZA of members, of society, of citizens.

Today is just the beginning. And in this new path, I propose a new composition for the presidium of our parliamentary representation, which I believe will enhance our effectiveness as a group and our firepower.

I propose Nikos Pappas for the position of Head of our Parliamentary Group.

I propose Nikos for two main reasons.

First, because Nikos is a respected economist with a Ph.D. in economics from Strathclyde University in Scotland. His dissertation focused on the microeconomic impacts of Greece’s demographic problem, which is very relevant today. Additionally, Nikos taught at the University for four years.

We will not cede our economy to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who has failed in the private sector, or to Kostis Hatzidakis, who has never worked a day in his life. Their disastrous results are now visible even to their supporters.

We have the experience and knowledge to address the real field of the economy: small and medium-sized enterprises, freelancers, farmers, and employees who need to live with dignity. The economy of research and innovation.

Second, because Nikos is a politician with solid political foundations, who has been targeted by the system from which he brought significant revenue to state coffers.

SYRIZA has been attacked more than any other party for this. New Democracy, along with Petsa lists and loan write-offs, has built a mechanism specializing in character assassination. Something they are desperately trying to achieve with me and, of course, something Nikos has experienced as well.

Without evasion, I stand by him against this corrupt system. We will not let them win. Nor will we allow their plans to taint our identity and principles.

I call on all of you to give a strong mandate to Nikos Pappas as the head of our parliamentary representation.

I am confident that, in this new phase, we will move forward with strength and unity, leading SYRIZA to the place it deserves: the leadership of the progressive camp and the restoration of our historical mission as the party of the Left.

Let’s begin this new chapter with the commitment to fight together, shoulder to shoulder, for a better Greece.

Thank you.

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