A new internal dispute seems to be brewing within SYRIZA after reports that the party’s conference, scheduled for November 8-10, will take place in a nightclub that has been closed for the past four years. The venue in question is reportedly Gazi Live, located on Iera Odos.

The plan to hold the conference in a former nightclub was revealed by Stefanos Kasselakis on Friday morning. His office released a statement raising four questions regarding the venue and the preparations for the conference, as well as the upcoming leadership elections.

Gazi Live is a nightclub that, between 2017 and 2019, hosted performances by famous Greek artists such as Notis Sfakianakis, Paola, Nikos Vourliotis, Natassa Bofiliou, Marinella, Glykeria, and Eleni Vitali.

The revelation that the conference will be held in this venue has sparked reactions on social media. SYRIZA MP Petros Pappas sarcastically commented, “Come on, you can do better: maybe in a café, a flea market, or even an abandoned circus? This is just embarrassing now.”

Conference Timing and Internal Concerns

The party’s Political Secretariat, which met on Thursday, reaffirmed that the conference will proceed as planned on November 8-10. The Secretariat emphasized that SYRIZA will move forward in an organized manner, respecting the party’s constitution and decisions made by its governing bodies. The announcement also stressed the importance of a political dialogue that focuses on policy proposals for the future of SYRIZA and Greek society, particularly in light of the recent internal tensions.

Kasselakis’ Statement that Stirred Controversy

Following up on Thursday’s Secretariat meeting, Stefanos Kasselakis stated on Friday morning, demanding “immediate answers” to the following four questions:

• What steps have been taken to secure the conference venue, and when did the search begin?
• Is there a lease agreement in place for the venue?
• Which company is responsible for managing the election process?
• Why hasn’t the campaign for the conference begun yet?

Kasselakis stressed that answers to these questions are crucial to maintaining the trust and participation of the party’s members.

Gazi Live’s Past

The last performances at Gazi Live took place in December 2018, featuring Notis Sfakianakis, Paola, and Giorgos Papadopoulos. The trio’s shows continued until March 2019 but ended two weeks earlier than scheduled due to personal reasons.

Three weeks later, the venue hosted a musical show called “Bel Rev” featuring Natassa Bofiliou. The show was a celebration of the 15-year collaboration between Bofiliou, composer Themis Karamouratidis, and lyricist Gerasimos Evangelatos.

In December 2017, the same stage was home to a performance titled “Women’s Affair” with Marinella, Eleni Vitali, and Glykeria, which ran until March 2018.

Social Media Reactions

News of SYRIZA’s plan to hold its conference in a former nightclub has sparked lively discussions on social media. Some users jokingly suggested that Kasselakis should attend a concert by Konstantinos Argyros, while others reminisced about the iconic zeibekiko dance of Olga Gerovasili. Many distributed imaginary roles, appointing Christos Spirtzis as the bouncer and Sokratis Famellos as the DJ. Others proposed alternative venues in case things don’t go as planned.