The Radical Left Coalition’s (SYRIZA) transition from a vibrant, youthful idealistic party to a supporter of the third bailout has caused existential problems amongst its younger members.
September’s victory lacked the jubilance of the January election with most of its younger set choosing to distance itself from the party’s failed promises and rapid U-turn to austerity.
The young party members may have shown up at the 2nd Panhellenic Conference in their droves and chose to remain quiet in the government’s turn to the bailout, but many have already found other areas where activism needs them and have turned their focus away from SYRIZA to do what they have always done in their battles of ideology that take place on squares and protest rallies. They are especially passionate about tearing down the fence at Evros, rush to reception facilities for refugees and take part in anti-fascist festivals to rally for rights, such as that of same-sexed couples rights etc. etc.
SYRIZA’s budding stars such as Ilias Chronopoulos and Ilias Panteleakos as well as others decided to leave, paving the way for others who agree with the party line to fill in their shoes. Today’s young SYRIZA supporters resemble those of socialist PASOK proponents of earlier decades. Back in those days, participation in the youth section of the organization was a passport to a career in politics.
These days, young SYRIZA supporters have a different agenda to their activist predecessors.
Jason Schinas-Papadopoulos: The 27-year-old was a protagonist in the reshuffling of the SYRIZA youth faction. He took the place of Ilias Panteleakos who left in September, disillusioned by the party’s line. Jason has unswerving faith in Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and has had a link with the party for the last ten years, joining even before he left high school.
The rapper Salto Mortar who forgot the lyrics, the crisis and the sell-off
He was a member of the SYRIZA administration during his university years and moved against the privatization of universities from 2006-2007. In December 2008, he took to the streets with thousands of young people to fight against the murder of Alexis Grigoropoulos and took part in the Endyl conference in 2011.
Νondas Floros: The 22-year-old Polytechnic student was considered a certainty during the election process of the SYRIZA youth faction’s Central Council. He became known in the party at the end of January 2014 when he was arrested outside the office of then shipping minister, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, after heading there to protest against the drowning of migrants at Farmakonisi. He is a member of the Left Union (AREN), the same line from which Tsipras comes from. Floros was unknown in the party during his arrest, however his accusation that he fell prey to police brutality was followed by a wave of support from within the party. He says he was kicked and abused, groped by the neck and punched. That, was his passport, to the top!
Victims of the Riot Police
Danae Pappa: The ambitious 20-year-old is an agriculture student who has been part of the party for the last few months. She is extroverted and charismatic, winning her party approval. She loves the limelight and has taken part in talk shows to support the party line with passion and fluency. She has a deep understanding for the party’s U-turn from anti-austerity to pro-bailout and has started to write articles on the matter.
From Tatiana to bailouts!
Nina-Alkistis Dragona: She has two passions – leftist policies and acting. From a young girl she took part in theater performances and workshops. She created the theater troupe Bourboulithra with two other colleagues and visits primary schools to inform young students of the importance of recycling.
From the ‘No’ movement to the National Theater stage
That’s not where it stops for Nina. She wants to be taken seriously as an actress and chose to sit for the National Theater’s exams in September. Until recently, she admired Zoe Konstantopoulou and was passionate during the ‘No’ movement. She’s particularly active in the SYRIZA group at Galatsi and has been seen hanging out at rallies, such as the one at the Praktiker chain. She’s also a party animal and attends all social events.
Alexandra Ftouli: Born in 1995, she graduated from the 1st Lyceum of Kaisariani and is a first-year student of political studies at the University of Athens. She has been involved with the party for just a few months but claims to always have had an interest in politics. She participated in teen parliament in 2012. The 20-year-old has a passion for social-media and blogging.
Passionate blogger
Maroulia Bourou: A new person who stands out, the young medical student in Thessaloniki is afraid of nothing and even stood up against Mayor Yiannis Boutaris in the past.
Raging young doctor
