Olga Gerovasili announced today that she is becoming independent from SYRIZA, while the latest wave of departures includes Giannis Ragousis, Miltos Zambaras and Dionysis Kalamatianos.

“From my position as Deputy Speaker of Parliament arise institutional obligations. For this reason, following consultation with the President of Parliament, so that no sudden dysfunctions arise, I will send him the relevant letter of independence in the immediate coming days,” she said in a statement.

Olga Gerovasili’s statement

“From the very first moment I became involved in politics — local government and the central political scene — I sought to serve a Goal, to defend society and its needs in the best possible way.

I believed and continue to believe that the Left and the Progressive movement are, above all, the forces that can bring social Justice and provide effective solutions to the constantly intensifying institutional, economic, social and political problems, thereby creating the necessary conditions for the prosperity of society and the strengthening of our homeland.

This is precisely what the SYRIZA government of 2015-2019 did, when, under mined and suffocating conditions, it freed the country from bankruptcy and the memorandums that had been inherited by the Greek people from the parties that alternated in government during the four decades of the post-junta period.

In the years that followed, there were many difficulties and countless battles.

I stood selflessly. I did not have a moment of ‘second thoughts’ when the stakes became the very dignity of our political space and its people. Whatever role I had to serve, despite the conflicts that had to take place, whatever political cost I had to bear, even when the ship did not appear to be finding shelter, I operated with only one guiding principle: ‘Love responsibility…’

This is how I proceeded and this is how I will continue to proceed. With the same Goal and the same Principles.

However, this Goal and these Principles are not expressed by the remaining formation.

That is why I am becoming independent from the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance Parliamentary Group.

From my position as Deputy Speaker of Parliament arise institutional obligations. For this reason, following consultation with the President of Parliament, so that no sudden dysfunctions arise, I will send him the relevant letter of independence in the immediate coming days.”

Ragousis and Zambaras become independent from SYRIZA

Giannis Ragousis also announced his resignation from SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance this morning. The former minister chose to address the members and party officials with whom he had shared a common path in recent years, expressing his gratitude for their journey together.

A short time later, Miltos Zambaras, an MP for Aetolia-Acarnania, also announced that he was becoming independent from SYRIZA.

Dionysis Kalamatianos becomes independent

The Elis MP, Dionysis Kalamatianos, also submitted his declaration of independence to the President of Parliament.

As he stated in his declaration: “From now on, I will carry out my parliamentary duties as an independent MP for Elis.”

Polakis and Douros battle for leadership

The battle for the party leadership in Parliament is expected to be decided between the two finalists, Rena Dourou and Pavlos Polakis, with Ms Dourou currently maintaining a lead among the electoral body.

However, immediately after the election of the new leadership of the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance Parliamentary Group, the party’s Central Committee is also meeting tomorrow, with the aim of electing a new secretary, with former minister Nikos Pappas considered the favourite for the position, as well as appointing new collective bodies. In this direction, the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance Political Secretariat is meeting today at 3pm, while a few hours before the start of the meeting Giannis Ragousis resigned from the party body, with reports suggesting that further similar departures may be recorded during the day.

Meanwhile, a key role in the party’s internal developments is expected to be played by Chania MP Pavlos Polakis, who rejoined the party’s Parliamentary Group once again — for the third time yesterday — while he criticised the MPs who became independent because they did not surrender their seats, “blocking” his election to the leadership of the Parliamentary Group.

“It is clear that ‘some people’ know who SYRIZA will have as its leader and that it will exist and grow stronger, AND THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING!!” Mr Polakis commented, at a time when the formation of the new balance of forces within the party’s Central Committee is expected to act as a catalyst for the decisions of the Chania MP from now on.

In any case, however, Elena Akrita has openly sided with Rena Dourou, while Christos Giannoulis made clear that he will not vote for Pavlos Polakis. In this landscape, “I will vote for Rena Dourou and I support it publicly,” Theofilos Xanthopoulos stressed yesterday, adding another vote in her favour.

A “transfer” summer

In the meantime, the unprecedented fragmentation of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, which has pushed the number of independent MPs in Parliament sharply higher, has come under PASOK’s scrutiny, as reported by protothema.

According to reliable information, at least three MPs belonging to the “Tsipras camp” (some of them from the new generation) are being considered by certain senior PASOK figures, at a time when “the fragmentation currently taking place is also changing the circumstances for the PASOK president, his choices and his decisions. PASOK’s expansion is continuing constantly and is one of our priorities,” as Anna Diamantopoulou stated yesterday on Action24.

On the part of some SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance MPs, their choice to become independent rather than resign — as Amalia indirectly suggested as a potential route for a political transfer — leads in multiple directions, or at the very least constitutes a strong negotiating card for a possible move to PASOK or another political organisation.