2023 Syriza leadership election
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A leadership election was held in September 2023 within Syriza after the resignation of leader Alexis Tsipras following the June 2023 legislative election.[1] It was won by Stefanos Kasselakis after two rounds of voting.[2]
Background
[edit]Previous leadership election
[edit]In January 2022, Alexis Tsipras, then president of SYRIZA - PS, proposed to the party's political council the election of the leader and the central committee directly by its members,[3] which was accepted and voted through despite the disagreement of the internal party opposition group "Umbrella" from the party congress in April with 70% of the votes.[4]
On 15 May elections were held for the presidency of the party, which were open to members and friends of the party, while only those who had been members before 21 March were admitted to vote for the central committee.[5]
Alexis Tsipras was re-elected with 100% of the valid votes and 140,000 new members.[6] A total of 172,000 citizens participated.
2023
[edit]After the June 2023 Greek legislative election, Syriza received a record low percentage of 17.83% since the May 2012 Greek legislative election.[7] Tsipras announced his resignation 4 days after the elections on 29 June 2023. He stated that the party needs, "profound renewal and refoundation".[8] Sokratis Famellos was unanimously elected to take his place as president of the parliamentary group, becoming the leader of the official opposition.[9]
All party members of Syriza who were aged 15-years-old and above before 17 September 2023 could vote in the leadership election.[10] The vote was held under the two-round system.
Candidates
[edit]Effie Achtsioglou announced her intention to run for presidency on 12 July from the Athens Conservatoire.[11] A day later, Euclid Tsakalotos announced his candidacy.[12] Nikos Pappas announced his candidacy during the central committee’s meeting, on 15 July.[13] Stefanos Tzoumakas, member of the Executive Committee also announced his candidacy during the central committee meeting.[14] In August 2023, Stefanos Kasselakis announced that he would be running in the election.[15]
Opinion polls
[edit]Leadership Election voting intention by Metron Analysis for MEGA TV:[16]
- Stefanos Kasselakis: 39%
- Effie Achtsioglou: 31%
- Euclid Tsakalotos: 13%
- Nikos Pappas: 3%
- Stefanos Tzoumakas: 3%
Results
[edit]Kasselakis was the top vote-getter in the first round of the leadership contest on 17 September 2023 with Effie Achtsioglou in second place.[17]
| Candidate | First round | Second round | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Stefanos Kasselakis | 66,156 | 44.91 | 74,285 | 55.98 |
| Effie Achtsioglou | 53,292 | 36.18 | 58,425 | 44.02 |
| Euclid Tsakalotos | 13,156 | 8.93 | ||
| Nikos Pappas | 12,787 | 8.68 | ||
| Stefanos Tzoumakas | 1,917 | 1.30 | ||
| Total | 147,308 | 100.00 | 132,710 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | 147,308 | 98.98 | 132,710 | 98.73 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,513 | 1.02 | 1,710 | 1.27 |
| Total votes | 148,821 | 100.00 | 134,420 | 100.00 |
| Source: [18] [19] | ||||
As no candidate received over 50% of the vote in the first round there was a run-off election between the top two candidates, those being Stefanos Kasselakis and Effie Achtsioglou, on 24 September 2023.
In the second round Kasselakis received 55.98% of the vote and Achtsioglou received 44.02%, giving Kasselakis the victory. Kasselakis spoke of wanting Syriza to emulate the U.S. Democratic Party and move to the centre-left.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Smith, Helena (29 June 2023). "Alexis Tsipras steps down as Syriza leader after Greek election rout". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ a b Smith, Helena (25 September 2023). "Stefanos Kasselakis: ex-banker who lit up Greek politics to lead Syriza". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Τσίπρας – Προτείνει ο πρόεδρος και η ΚΕ του ΣΥΡΙΖΑ να εκλέγεται από τα μέλη και όχι από το συνέδριο". in.gr. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "3ο Συνέδριο ΣΥΡΙΖΑ: Εκνευρισμός για την παρέμβαση Τσακαλώτου – Πέρασε η πρόταση Τσίπρα". tovima.gr. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "ΣΥΡΙΖΑ: 15 Μαΐου οι εσωκομματικές εκλογές – Πώς θα γίνει η διαδικασία". tovima.gr. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "Τσίπρας για εκλογές ΣΥΡΙΖΑ: Ο ΣΥΡΙΖΑ των 172.000 μελών θα είναι πρώτο κόμμα". pagenews.gr. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "Greece's conservatives win election majority to secure second term". Politico. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Greek opposition leader Tsipras resigns as Syriza chief after election defeat". Politico. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Famellos unanimously president of Syriza parliamentary group". Hellasjournal.com. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ Kokkinidis, Tasos (17 September 2023). "The Five Candidates Vowing to Reverse Syriza's Decline in Greece". Greek Reporter. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ "Έφη Αχτσιόγλου: Στο Ωδείο Αθηνών θα ανακοινώσει αύριο την υποψηφιότητά της για την ηγεσία του Συριζα". www.ieidiseis.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Euclid Tsakalotos announces candidacy for SYRIZA leadership, advocates for an inclusive Left | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Nikos Pappas announces candidacy for SYRIZA leadership | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ Costu, Safak (15 July 2023). "SYRIZA Leadership Race Heats Up: Stefanos Tzoumakas Throws Hat into Ring". BNN Breaking. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Kasselakis announced he is running for Syriza leadership". Ta Nea. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "SYRIZA-PS | Leadership Election voting intention | by Metron Analysis for @MegaTvOfficial". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Syriza: Kasselakis, Achtsioglou headed to a runoff". ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ "Twitter Greece Elects: SYRIZA-PS Leadership Election Final Results". Twitter Greece Elects. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ "Εκλογές Συριζα: Τα τελικά αποτελέσματα της κάλπης". 25 September 2023.