SYRIZA descending into chaos
Tragicomic scenes unfolding in the run-up to the November 24 leadership elections
The countdown to the election for a new SYRIZA leader has been marred by court threats, verbal assaults, accusations and the presence of the police to maintain the security at party headquarters.
On Thursday, supporters of ousted president Stefanos Kasselakis verbally assaulted members of the “87” group, while on Friday, and after his rumored intention to return to his office, similar scenes unfolded in the Parliament when guards had to intervene to prevent an employee of SYRIZA from entering the office of parliamentary group leader Nikos Pappas (Kasselakis’ former office).
Sources close to Pappas referred to a misunderstanding and said that the employee had not been informed about a change in the way the office is entered.
If all these scenes of pettiness were not enough over the previous two days, another issue could be on the horizon that could further compound the party’s woes, with Kasselakis’ lawyers speaking of legal issues related to his dismissal.
Sources close to Kasselakis said that the issue that has arisen with his dismissal is not political, but legal.
At the same time a further source of tension is speculation of Kasselakis’ possible expulsion from the party.
According to estimates, however, it is unlikely “87” will waste political capital to take such an action, but the hardliners do not rule it out if the deposed SYRIZA leader further inflames the atmosphere.
Meanwhile Pavlos Polakis, a former ally of Kasselakis and instrumental in his rise to the presidency before challenging his leadership, is reported to have told the recent central committee that he is simply not up for the task.
“He is a good and honest boy but unfortunately he is not fit to be party president,” he said. He repeated the same sentiment to Open TV on Friday launching his election campaign and inaugurating his public appearances on television.
Meanwhile after the actor Apostolos Gletsos announced his candidacy, TV celebrity Dimitris Papanotas is also reportedly preparing to enter the election race.
Papanotas had also been a candidate in the European elections earlier this year, but withdrew after statements that he made in the past surfaced and were considered sexist.
It is possible that announcing his entry to the race is his response to Kasselakis.
