Kostas Chrysogonos

An overwhelming majority of SYRIZA's "Socialist Trend" faction under MEP Costas Chrysogonos have voted to part ways with the ruling leftists over differences in policy.

In a ballot held on Friday, the proposal was backed by 1,678, or 82.6 percent, of the faction's 2,032 members. Only 31 wanted to stay with SYRIZA.

Former SYRIZA MEP Costas Chrysogonos on Thursday accused Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of adopting a strategy that is "essentially Stalinist" in nature.

A video showing the newly elected President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani referring to FYROM as “Macedonia”, has caused a backlash in Greece. The Italian politician went a step further by dubbing the citizens of FYROM descendants of Alexander the Great during a visit in the country’s capital Skopje, in February in his capacity as European Commissioner.

“A clash with lenders will be an impractical choice, and if attempted the result will be the country returning to the trap of the memorandum, under worse conditions,” was the phrase used by SYRIA MEP Costas Chrysogonos in a letter addressed to Greek PM Alexis Tsipras on … March 19, 2015.