Alexis Tsipras

Although Kasselakis was removed, it is difficult to foresee a revival of SYRIZA in the near future. The crisis will deepen, and we will see many more episodes. There might be agreements on positions, political alliances, organizational structures, priorities, and programs.

What is happening in the political opposition at the moment is very bad. It is bad for everyone. SYRIZA turns out to have been an opportunistic formation based on the charisma of former leader (and premier) Alexis Tsipras and was the product of great and justified public anger. 

The dismissal of Stefanos Kasselakis from the position of SYRIZA president by an enhanced majority of the Central Committee (163 yes and 123 no and null/blank votes) leads the main opposition party into new internal elections within a year. At the same time, it brings Alexis Tsipras back to the forefront, who played a role in both the election of Kasselakis and his removal a year later.

A censure motion against SYRIZA leader Stefanos Kasselakis was approved on Sunday by the 300-member central committee of the main opposition party.

A total of 163 voted in favor of the censure motion, 120 voted against, and there were three invalid or blank votes. The motion required 148 votes to pass.

The 300-member central committee of main opposition SYRIZA is voting on a motion of censure against its leader, Stefanos Kasselakis.

The motion, tabled by the "Group of 87" faction within the central committee which is known as the guard of former prime minister and party leader Alexis Tsipras, was submitted on Saturday, with the support of a third of central committee members.

SYRIZA leader Stefanos Kasselakis, speaking at the party's central committee on Saturday, said the party must "change or sink," citing the need for reform amid internal dissent.

A political contribution text, calling for elections to elect a new leader of SYRIZA from the party members, was submitted shortly before the start of SYRIZA’s Central Committee meeting by the group of 87.

As SYRIZA continues to struggle in the polls, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Olga Gerovasilis and Thanasis Theocharopoulos of the “87” faction urged party leader Stefanos Kasselakis to initiate internal polls to facilitate the election of a new leader.

As main opposition SYRIZA heads to its congress this weekend, the most difficult one of recent years, there has been no letup in the tension between its leadership and the internal opposition.

The structural changes proposed by SYRIZA’s President, Stefanos Kasselakis, have triggered significant shifts within the party.