For now, Stefanos Kasselakis is keeping quiet, a day after being ousted from SYRIZA’s leadership by a decision from the party’s Central Committee. His office in Koumoundourou has been locked, and he hasn’t met with even his closest associates. Manolis Kapnisakis swiftly resigned from his position as head of the president’s office, demanding that he be promptly removed from the party’s payroll.

Kasselakis’ last public appearance was on Sunday afternoon when he briefly took the stage at the Central Committee meeting after the successful passage of the no-confidence motion against him. He stated he felt liberated and denounced the party’s leadership, which opposed the decisions of its grassroots members.

The No-Confidence Motion Passed with 163 ‘Yes’ Votes

Despite his emotional tone, his appearance hinted at a key element for his next moves: He said that he would be accountable only to the base of SYRIZA.

Some of his staunch supporters, such as MP Nina Kasimati and Kilkis MP Petros Pappas, view his candidacy for SYRIZA leadership as inevitable. However, Kasselakis’ comments allow him to explore another path—potentially forming a personalist party aimed at becoming the “new SYRIZA.”

In his brief appearance as an ousted leader before the Central Committee, Kasselakis severed the last emotional ties with the majority of the body, with his allies even targeting former mentor-turned-rival Pavlos Polakis and Nikos Pappas. Some of his supporters and internet “friendly trolls” suggest that members close to the current parliamentary president gave the crucial votes needed for the no-confidence motion to pass.

Nevertheless, Kasselakis’ supporters encourage him to pursue a new candidacy. Petros Pappas argued that the process should not be lengthy, as the party cannot have a “regent” for long against the will of the people. Nina Kasimati proposed that the election of a new president should coincide with the election of a new Central Committee, hoping for a complete overhaul that would signal SYRIZA’s transition into the “Kasselakis era.”

Kasselakis’ most prominent supporters believe that he still holds the party’s base’s support and hope for a significant internal shake-up, especially while the emotions surrounding what they perceive as a “Central Committee coup” are still fresh.

Recent polls show SYRIZA’s voter intention significantly reduced, but Kasselakis’ personal approval ratings remain higher than the party’s.

In the aftermath, Kasselakis’ allies in Koumoundourou resigned, stating they would follow him in his next political steps, whatever they may be. Babis Papadakis, the head of the president’s press office until Sunday, and Eugenia Kountouri, the party’s press office director, took the same path as Manolis Kapnisakis. More resignations could follow, depending on future developments.