Following a dramatic three-hour SYRIZA congress, the internal conflict dubbed “87 vs. Kasselakis” culminated late Friday night. Today, Kasselakis is set to unveil a new “movement,” which he described as an independent and progressive party.
He told his supporters, “We won’t be attending this congress tomorrow. Instead, we will celebrate democracy with the most independent, groundbreaking, and progressive movement.” His followers, known as “Kasselistas,” gathered at his Tavros headquarters after booing former SYRIZA minister Nikos Pappas at the Gazi Live venue, demanding Kasselakis to “change everything.”
Supporters’ Actions: Kasselakis’ supporters did not back down easily. Out of the 2,000 gathered outside the congress venue, some tried to storm inside, assisted by Evangelos Antonaros, who allegedly physically confronted the venue’s security. The Kasselistas even called the Fire Department, claiming the venue lacked a fire safety certificate, but the fire service left shortly after a brief inspection.
Kasselakis attended the congress to protest the exclusion of certain organizations but left soon after to meet with his supporters in Tavros. He briefly returned to the venue before leaving for good, as several key figures, including Giannis Matzouranis, Rania Svigkou, and Nikos Pappas, delivered direct criticism against him.
Wave of Resignations: Following his departure, multiple MPs aligned with Kasselakis declared their independence from SYRIZA. Alongside Pappas, Avlonitis, and Christidou, Kyriaki Malama also announced her departure on Saturday morning. Theodora Tzakri, Nina Kasimati, and Elena Akrita, who had earlier expressed support for Kasselakis, are expected to make similar announcements.
Evangelos Antonaros also announced his exit from SYRIZA on social media.
Impact on Parliament: Although the official declarations of independence have yet to be submitted to Parliament, SYRIZA’s count is down to 32 MPs, while PASOK has 31. It is expected that the parliamentary losses for SYRIZA will not stop at these initial departures.
Ongoing Congress: Despite the split, the SYRIZA congress continued. Delegates decided to establish a new Ethics Committee, previously controlled by Kasselakis’ faction. They also resolved to resume the session at 11 a.m. on Saturday, in a bid to counter the media attention surrounding Kasselakis’ new party announcement.
Images from Kasselakis’ Supporters at Tavros Headquarters
