Stefanos Kasselakis: “I will do everything to prove worthy of the members’ trust,” he told SYRIZA MPs

A quote from Stefanos Kasselakis seems to “lock in” his candidacy for the leadership of SYRIZA, judging by how he addressed party MPs in their latest conversation.

Specifically, Mr. Kasselakis, speaking via Skype, said: “I will do everything to prove worthy of your trust and that of all SYRIZA members who are concerned about the party’s future.”

The Roadmap to Electing the New President

At the same time, SYRIZA continues its internal discussions among the members of the Political Secretariat, which met yesterday to prepare for the Central Committee session over the weekend. The main focus for the members of the guiding body was the roadmap for the election of a new president, the nature of the upcoming Party Congress, and the requirements for candidates to participate in the presidential race. Another round of talks is expected tomorrow.

Regarding the timeline, despite the opposing views of the “Kasselistas” and the candidate Pavlos Polakis, who sought to expedite the internal processes, the agreed-upon roadmap was reconfirmed. The Congress will be held from November 1-3, followed by the internal elections on November 24 and December 1, respectively. It was also decided that the Congress will be extraordinary, not ongoing or constitutional, meaning that new delegates will be elected, leaving open the possibility of new power dynamics.

A point of intense internal debate has been the criteria for participation in the presidential race, raised by the “87,” focusing on the eligibility requirements for candidates. In line with criteria established by electoral law for public office candidacies, the “87” proposed that candidates submit a declaration of financial interests (“Pothen Esches”) to the party. They also opposed candidates with high levels of personal debt or loans to the state, to prevent any “personal dependencies.”

Tzakri’s Pushback on Polakis

On the other hand, the “87” did not push for an increase in the required number of signatures for a candidate to run. The current requirement of 30 signatures from Central Committee members remains in place, although Theodora Tzakri, reflecting the views of Kasselakis, reportedly requested raising the threshold to 50. This move was interpreted as an attempt to exclude Pavlos Polakis from the race. Polakis allegedly reacted strongly, and Tzakri’s proposal was not accepted, nor was the suggestion for candidates to provide a clean criminal record, according to Kasselakis’ supporters.

Respect for Procedures

The “87” emphasized the importance of respecting the party’s constitution and decisions of the collective bodies for anyone to be declared a candidate for SYRIZA’s leadership. In this context, Vice President of Parliament Olga Gerovasili highlighted the need for transparency, such as requiring candidates to submit their financial declarations to a party committee. She denied any suggestion that she proposed a five-year minimum membership requirement for candidates.

In the ongoing discussion, it was clarified that Stefanos Kasselakis has already submitted his financial declaration, and sources close to Gerovasili dismissed claims that she imposed such a membership condition for candidacy.

Meanwhile, Giannis Ragousis reportedly opposed Kasselakis’ removal or exclusion, but stressed that Kasselakis and his supporters should not be allowed to create a de facto split in the party. Nikos Pappas, head of SYRIZA’s parliamentary group, insisted on discussing the party’s constitution to hold the leadership accountable.

In conclusion, the criteria for participation and Kasselakis’ adherence to party rules are under discussion. While the “87” take a softer stance for the sake of party unity, no moves to expel him or refer him to the Ethics Committee are currently on the table.