The flames flared up at the first meeting of the SYRIZA PS Political Secretariat after Tsipras‘ resignation, when Socrates Famellos in his introduction proposed the party’s alliance with the scheme prepared by Alexis Tsipras. “It is a split”, Pavlos Polakis replied.

Reportedly, the Famellos plan stated that “In this environment, the resignation of former Prime Minister and President of SYRIZA – PS, Alexis Tsipras, from his position as MP is an important and critical event that objectively produces strong political results and creates new data and questions that no one can overlook. With Alexis Tsipras as its President, SYRIZA has structured the characteristics and positions of a ruling party, governed the country and overturned the political correlations of four decades that had been formed since the post-war period. Even if there are different perspectives, the relationship between SYRIZA-PS and Alexis Tsipras cannot be adversarial. Our parallel paths must converge towards the common goal of a strong progressive pole, with the formation of a programmatic proposal and overcoming the dividing lines in the progressive space as a whole, guided by the interests of the great majority of the people and on the basis of Leftist ideas and values.

In the next elections, it is necessary for the citizens to have a strong alternative to the New Democracy. In this great task of reconstituting the progressive space, the role of SYRIZA – PS is and must continue to be creative, synthetic and an accelerator of developments in all fields of political and social demands. In Parliament, in local government, in the mass spaces, in local communities, in movements. With joint initiatives, actions and interventions that will strengthen progressive positions against right-wing policies and make them the majority current in society. So that the country can finally turn the page with a progressive government with a long-term vision and broad popular legitimacy”.

The above wording reportedly provoked a strong reaction from Pavlos Polakis and a “heated” rant with the party’s president, Socrates Famellos.

It’s a split, Polakis reportedly said, with Socrates Famellos responding that I am totally against it being a split.