Today’s emergency SYRIZA Progressive Alliance Conference, held at “Gazi Live” from 6:30 PM, is anticipated to be anything but celebratory as internal divisions are set to escalate. Delegates from both the majority and the “Kasselistas” (supporters of Stefanos Kasselakis) faction are gathering as early as noon. Although the official start of the conference is scheduled for 6:30 PM, with an opening speech by the party’s General Secretary, Rania Svigou, Kasselakis supporters have reportedly planned to arrive at 3 PM to express their stance. Stefanos Kasselakis has urged all elected delegates to be present, posting, “I ask all legally elected delegates to attend the conference venue. Remain calm, composed, and determined.”
Protests from Kasselakis Supporters
There has been dissatisfaction within Kasselakis’s camp over the lack of transparency regarding the total number of certified delegates, as some were reportedly left uninformed, specifically in key local organizations like Athens and the Southern Aegean. Despite Kasselakis’s call for calm, tensions are expected to run high among delegates and their supporters as they gather outside the venue.
Scenarios and Speculations
The primary anticipated scenario is that the “Kasselistas” will protest before the conference begins and that certified delegates will enter to seek Kasselakis’s candidacy approval for party leadership. However, there is speculation about their potential absence from the conference hall to highlight Kasselakis’s superiority in terms of signatures gathered (over 1,900) and to emphasize their opposition symbolically.
The majority faction, meanwhile, continues to accuse Stefanos Kasselakis of destabilizing internal party processes by invoking “Democracy.” At the same time, candidate Pavlos Polakis’s allegations of Kasselakis’s involvement in offshore companies added fuel to the fire during yesterday’s Political Secretariat session.
The Controversial Asset Declaration
Polakis presented the Secretariat with an extensive complaint alleging that Kasselakis submitted a “false asset declaration,” with suspicions of his involvement in several companies, possibly including offshore entities. Polakis has since clarified his desire to see Kasselakis barred from the party’s leadership race, despite his initial opposition to such a measure.
The “Yellow File” as a Catalyst
Apart from seeking Kasselakis’s exclusion, Polakis’s camp may pursue further investigations based on information contained in a yellow folder he received anonymously. The folder, delivered after Kasselakis’s asset declaration appeared on the party’s website, reportedly includes details contradicting Kasselakis’s life story narrative from 2014 to 2022. Moreover, Kasselakis’s father, Theodoros, allegedly owes approximately 11 million euros to the state, while legal actions regarding an active offshore company have raised additional questions. Should these offshore activities be confirmed, Kasselakis could face further scrutiny due to the restriction on first-degree relatives’ involvement with offshore companies.
Alternative Plans and Resignation Speculations
The lack of transparency over certified delegates is causing concern within Kasselakis’s team, as some of his supporters may find themselves barred from the conference. Speculations are mounting that if these restrictions continue, Kasselakis’s supporters might consider a final departure from SYRIZA, potentially as independent MPs (with names such as Petros Pappas, Alexandros Avlonitis, Theodora Tzakri, and Rallia Christidou circulating). Meanwhile, the majority faction suggests that the “Kasselistas” may be preparing a new form of rebellion, seemingly having forgotten their criticisms of the New Left’s members.
In conclusion, SYRIZA’s emergency conference today will likely be a defining moment, potentially shaping the party’s future amidst accusations, protests, and potential resignations.
