Seven MPs have left New Left, leading to the dissolution of the party’s Parliamentary Group. At the same time, 143 party members also announced their resignation, 36 of whom are members of the Central Committee.

Specifically, Alexis Charitsis, Efi Achtsioglou, Nasos Iliopoulos, Theano Fotiou, Meropi Tzoufi, Husein Zeimpek and Dimitris Tzanakopoulos informed the president of New Left, Gabriel Sakellaridis, of their decision to leave the party in a joint letter. The letter is expected to be submitted to the Speaker of Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, in order to formally complete their status as independents.

According to reports, Efi Achtsioglou is seriously considering surrendering her parliamentary seat. If she proceeds, her seat in Parliament is expected to go to Giannis Dragasakis, as the first alternate.

See here the list of the 143 members who are leaving.

The departing members describe this as a “difficult but necessary decision”, arguing that “the cycle that opened two years ago has reached its limits”. As they note, New Left was created with the aim of expressing a different perspective for the Left and for society, opposing what they describe as the degradation of political life and a logic of low expectations.

In their letter, they stress that the party maintained a “sharp and well-documented parliamentary discourse” and developed grassroots activism during a period in which, they argue, the political environment is becoming increasingly conservative and authoritarian. They also underline that they developed and supported radical proposals on critical issues concerning democracy and society.

However, they point out that political action cannot be limited to the formulation of positions and political struggle alone, but requires social resonance, momentum, and the ability to form majority currents capable of substantially influencing developments.

The seven former MPs of New Left also refer to the need for the formation of a broader progressive front against New Democracy and the rise of the far right. They recall that the party had placed on the public agenda the prospect of a “Popular Front”, but argue that the strategy currently followed by the leadership majority cannot meet this need.

“

It is not enough to rely on the logic of autonomous reconstruction of the radical Left in a period of deep crisis,” they note, adding that society is increasingly demanding broader political and social coalitions capable of offering a real alternative to the government.

Concluding, they state that they will continue their political activity with the aim of promoting democracy, social justice, peace, and support for working people, stressing that this is where the “real battle” for the Left lies today.