After the negative response of Lakis Lazopoulos on Alexis Tsipra’s proposal for candidacy, SYRIZA party was forced to change its candidate choices, ruling out the Roma candidate Suleiman Sabiha and replacing her with Muslim of Turkish origin, Mestan Osman Oumiz.

SYRIZA was forced to make this decision upon the strong opposition of the base of the party in eastern Macedonia and Thrace, especially of the Muslim community.

Mrs. Sabiha was accused of supporting nationalistic views, which do not fit with the ideology of SYRIZA, and not having good relations with Muslims of Thrace.

However, her replacement came as a surprise, since the original decision of SYRIZA was to maintain Mrs. Sabiha in its ballot and include also a representative of the Muslim minority of Thrace.

Eventually, though, after a joint meeting of the secretaries of the Prefectural Committees and the MP of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the party decided to exclude Mrs Sabiha’s candidacy .

Since Mr. Lazopoulos did not accept the proposal of SYRIZA, the opposition seeks two more candidates to form its ballot.

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday will tour the cities of Chania and Rethymno of Crete island.

The main opposition leader’s schedule includes a tour in Rethymno and a visit to the local hospital where he will hold talks with employees and doctors.

At 13:30, Tsipras will address an open rally at Spili and at 20:00 he will deliver a speech in Chania.