Stavros Theodorakis, the well-known TV journalist who founded the political movement To Potami (The River), was elected Head – not President – at the party’s founding congress this weekend that was attended by 466 delegates.

The conference that took place at Lavrion Technological and Cultural Park, south-east of Athens, was attended by members from various factions, including SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left), DIMAR (Democratic Left), KKE (Communist Party of Greece) as well as Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis and Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris.

Earlier, the body of the congress had approved the positions of the party as well as the conclusions drawn from this first event. The party’s founding charter uses the terms ‘volunteers’ instead of ‘members’ and ‘head’ instead of ‘president’ for the leader.

In his address, Mr. Theodorakis spoke against the “party state” and made overtures towards both the Left as well as liberals in an effort to widen the party’s base for collaboration. “Your clapping is dedicated to all congress members who came from everywhere in Greece and provide the best proof that this country will change,” said Mr. Theodorakis. “The large change will induce everyone!” At the end of the congress Mr. Theodorakis pointed to the party’s huge “reservoir” that citizens view favorably, according to studies. The movement has already garnered 6.6% of the vote in the European Elections last May, sending two MEPs from the faction to the European Parliament. The party’s new head hopes to increase the percentage and set the target from 6.6% to 14% or even 21% to be able to take part in a national coalition government and be able to enforce changes. 

The party doesn’t have formal party status yet. What lies ahead, according to Mr. Theodorakis, is the work by the elective representatives of the movement in travelling to regions and being helped by local volunteers to intervene in local issues by suggesting solutions.