Polakis challenges Famellos leadership

Pavlos Polakis, a member of the SYRIZA Political Secretariat and Central Committee, launched a direct challenge to party president Sokratis Famellos with a Facebook post on Tuesday. He declared that the party's strategy on progressive forces cooperation had "collapsed" and demanded immediate changes.

“After the collapse of the narrative and strategy of president Sokratis Famellos and his leadership group regarding the cooperation of progressive forces, particularly the unconditional support of SYRIZA-PS for ELAS, the following must happen immediately:”

Key demands

Polakis demanded, first, his immediate return to the SYRIZA parliamentary group, emphasizing he was not an independent MP. He then called for the resignation of Famellos and the election of a new president of the parliamentary group, stating he would participate in that process. Third, he called for an immediate convening of the Central Committee to establish an electoral organizing committee and a program committee based on the party's six-pillar, eleven-proposal program for progressive governance. Fourth, he proposed starting talks with allied political forces and personalities to form a broader progressive front.

Political implications

The intervention marked the most direct internal challenge to Famellos's leadership from a senior party official. Polakis, who had been sidelined in recent months, asserted his party roles as a member of the Political Secretariat and Central Committee. The move escalates tensions within SYRIZA, which has been grappling with leadership instability and strategic realignments.

Reactions and next steps

Articles reported that Polakis later confirmed in a televised interview that he would seek the party's top post. The party has yet to officially respond. The crisis now raises the prospect of a leadership contest or further fragmentation.