Young SYRIZA leader replaces Tsipras

Stefanos Kaselakis, the new leader of Greece’s main opposition party, the Radical Left Alliance (SYRIZA), replaced Alexis Tsipras.

Kaselakis and Tsipras met in the private office of parliament. Tsipras congratulated Kaselakis, who became party leader by coming first in the second round of the presidential elections held yesterday. Warning Kaselakis, who had no previous experience as a member of parliament or a ministry, about the difficulties of politics, Tsipras said: “Greek society is going through great difficulties. “We must provide hope and perspective in a spirit of unity and camaraderie,” he said.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also called Kaselakis and congratulated him. Mitsotakis invited the new SYRIZA leader to meet soon.

Kaselakis said in his statement after the election results were announced: “SYRIZA will win from now on.” saying. Kaselakis stated that he is the voice of the people and said: “Let’s make Greece a modern and progressive European country.” he said.

CHANGE IN SYRIZA

The change of leadership in the main opposition party made headlines in Greek newspapers today.

While the Ta Nea newspaper carried the phrase “The page has turned for the left” in its headline, Kaselakis stated: “I am not a phenomenon, I am the voice of a society that I respect and value. “I will never betray.” He included his words.

Also included in the Greek press were comments that Kaselakis’s lack of political experience and his new addition to the party would damage SYRIZA’s leftist ideology and cause division within the party.

Kaselakis was a parliamentary candidate in the May and June 2023 general elections at the invitation of former SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras, who brought SYRIZA to power in 2015, but did not qualify to enter parliament. Kaselakis, 35, immigrated to the US at age 14 as a student on a full scholarship due to his outstanding success in mathematics, studied finance and economics, worked for a time at Goldman Sachs and then founded his own company in the field of maritime transport.

Following the June 25 general election, Tsipras stated that the party needed change and announced that he would not be a candidate for party presidency. (AA)