Polakis: 'Mr. Tsipras moved against his party, we did not move against Mr. Tsipras'

Following the resignation of Sokratis Famellos, Pavlos Polakis declared that SYRIZA must "turn a new page." Speaking after a Political Secretariat meeting at the party's headquarters, the lawmaker also directed sharp criticism at Alexis Tsipras, suggesting a significant internal party realignment is underway.

Polakis expressed confidence that the Central Committee will meet as scheduled, despite what he termed "illegal actions by the acting secretary." He outlined the committee's agenda: first, to alter the previous Central Committee's political decision and strongly emphasize that SYRIZA will contest the next elections with a clear programmatic framework adopted at its congresses, calling for broad consolidation of left-wing, democratic, and progressive forces. Second, the committee will decide on his reinstatement to the parliamentary group based on a Central Committee decision. Third, the Political Secretariat will be supplemented, and a new secretary elected.

Addressing questions about the party's procedures, Polakis stressed that the Central Committee is the party's highest body between congresses, and its decisions hold the force of law within the party. He noted that over 130 members are required for such decisions.

When asked about comments from Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis concerning him and SYRIZA's future, Polakis retorted that Georgiadis should focus on the Attica Hospital's Special Infections Unit, which he claimed was suddenly closing for sterilization, forcing immunocompromised patients into general wards. Responding to the notion that leading the party would place him against Tsipras, Polakis reframed the situation: "Why don't you reverse the question? Mr. Tsipras moved against his party. We were here. And Mr. Tsipras was here, until he decided his historical cycle had ended."