SYRIZA leader: We don't want adversarial ballot against new party EL

Stefanos Kasselakis, the president of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance (SYRIZA-PS), declared that the party does not seek or require an adversarial stance against the newly formed party, EL. Speaking on ACTION 24, Kasselakis explained that following EL's establishment, SYRIZA's Central Committee decided to support the new party, viewing it as a positive development.

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We do not want and should not have an adversarial ballot against EL.

"We support it, we stand by it, we do not see it antagonistically," Kasselakis stated, emphasizing SYRIZA's commitment to fostering broad convergence within the progressive political spectrum. He believes this approach is crucial for ousting the current Mitsotakis government. He asserted that the majority within SYRIZA's Central Committee and the party's base agree with this position, stressing the importance of unity, a sentiment he feels is echoed by society.

Regarding potential defections of lawmakers to EL, Kasselakis highlighted the critical role of the parliamentary group's actions in the coming period and dismissed any thoughts of resignation among SYRIZA's current deputies. He also deflected questions about state funding and party assets, deeming such discussions inappropriate given the public's financial struggles.

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We support it, we stand by it, we do not see it antagonistically.

Kasselakis described his political and personal relationship with former SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras as "very good to excellent." However, he insisted that political matters should be discussed publicly. He acknowledged that Tsipras heard the Central Committee's decision and that he monitors Tsipras's statements, rejecting any notion of secret discussions or agreements between them. Kasselakis reiterated his focus on unity within the progressive movement, stating he is willing to make personal sacrifices to achieve the goal of removing the current government.

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The action of the parliamentary group will be critical and must be strengthened in the near future.

He expressed confidence that EL's initiative could form the basis for challenging Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, asserting that no single entity can succeed alone. Kasselakis believes societal conditions are ripe for the Mitsotakis government's removal in the upcoming elections. He also criticized the government's initiative to combat high prices, questioning why it focuses on educating citizens about inflation rather than implementing measures to lower product prices.

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Any such discussion is mistaken when citizens are worried about how to make ends meet.