SYRIZA leader expels three senior members
SYRIZA leader Stefanos Kasselakis announced late Monday he has decided to expel three senior party members, all former ministers.
Kasselakis accused Nikos Filis, Panos Skourletis and Dimitris Vitsas, of acting as “TV sponsors” of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
All three, members of the party’s left wing, have taken to the airwaves to severely criticize Kasselakis, a political neophyte who has lived in the US for the past 21 years, for his supposed lack of a clear political ideology. Filis has likened Kasselakis to former US President Donald Trump and Italy’s Beppe Grillo, a comedian who founded the Five Star Movement, a populist party that became a coalition partner in two governments.
The publication, earlier this week, of articles Kasselakis wrote about a decade ago and which recommended policies blasted by the Greek left as neo-liberal, led the three veteran politicians to redouble their criticism. Vitsas went as far as to announce the likely founding of a new “green, radical left” party.
As usual, Kasselakis announced his decision on social media.
“Certain SYRIZA members have been appearing for at least five years on TV channels making opposition to SYRIZA. A few days ago, I expressly stated that this tactic will no longer be tolerated,” he posted.
“Therefore, Messrs. Vitsas, Skourletis and Filis, who appeared in recent days on TV to oppose their own party, have chosen to place themselves outside SYRIZA-Proressive Alliance,” he added, accusing Mitsotakis’ “sponsors” of contributing to an electoral defeat or two. “What is certain, is they will not cost us the next victory,” Kasselakis said.
It is not up to the leader to unilaterally expel members. A disciplinary commission must do so. But defying the leader’s wishes would be unprecedented.
This disciplinary action could open the way for all those who opposed Kasselakis’ candidacy to quit the party. It is to be seen if many of the party members and voters would follow them. Historical precedent runs against it, however.
