Stefanos Kasselakis

SYRIZA circles from Koumoundourou accuse a plot of “defection” and a conspiracy aimed at removing SYRIZA from the main opposition.

In a dramatic turn of events, former SYRIZA leader Stefanos Kasselakis announced the creation of a new party to his supporters on Saturday, signifying the leftist party's implosion course. 

A day after announcing his departure from SYRIZA, former leader Stefanos Kasselakis unveiled the creation of a new political movement on Saturday.

Speaking to a large, vocal crowd chanting slogans outside his new headquarters in Tavros, southern Athens, Kasselakis declared, "Today is a joyful day because a movement of democracy, free citizens, and progress is being created."

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis reacted on Saturday to the fractious turmoil within the left-wing opposition party SYRIZA, which appears to have reached a peak during the party's ongoing congress.

SYRIZA MP Kyriaki Malama has announced her departure from the main opposition leftist party to serve as an independent MP.

This development reduces SYRIZA's representation in the 300-member Parliament to 31 seats, matching the number held by the socialist party PASOK. 

Tectonic changes in political and parliamentary balances are being caused by SYRIZA‘s new split, which now directly threatens to strip it of its status as the main opposition party.

Following a dramatic three-hour SYRIZA congress, the internal conflict dubbed “87 vs. Kasselakis” culminated late Friday night. Today, Kasselakis is set to unveil a new “movement,” which he described as an independent and progressive party.

Former SYRIZA leader Stefanos Kasselakis has announced he is leaving the party.

Kasselakis made his decision known after the party's congress made it clear it would refuse to consider his candidacy for the leadership election to be held later this month.

He added that he will be forming a new party and will make a further announcement early Saturday afternoon.

Stefanos Kasselakis announced his departure from SYRIZA from his office in Tavros while the opposition party’s conference was taking place in Gazi.

At the same time, he informed his supporters of the creation of a new political party.

The conference of main opposition SYRIZA opened Friday in a scene of chaos and division at the Gazi Live venue in Athens, as tensions between rival factions reached a boiling point.

Supporters of ousted leader Stefanos Kasselakis, gathered in protest since early afternoon, claimed that many delegates were deliberately excluded, signaling a possible party split.