2023 Syriza leadership election explained

Election Date:17 September 2023 (first round)
24 September 2023 (second round)
Flag Image:SYRIZA logo 2020.svg
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Year:2022
Previous Election:2022 Syriza leadership election
Next Year:2024
Next Election:2024 Syriza leadership election
Opinion Polls:
  1. Opinion polls
Before Election:Alexis Tsipras
After Election:Stefanos Kasselakis
President
Color1:EE1C0B
Image1:Stefanos Kasselakis 2023 (cropped).jpg
Image1 Size:120px
1Data1:66,156 (44.9%)
2Data1:74,285 (56.0%)
Candidate2:Effie Achtsioglou
Color2:2E343A
Image2 Size:135px
1Data2:53,292 (36.2%)
2Data2:58,425 (44.0%)
Candidate3:Euclid Tsakalotos
Color3:AB191A
Image3:File:Euclide Tsakalotos.jpg
Image3 Size:120px
1Data3:13,156 (8.9%)
2Data3:Eliminated
Candidate4:Nikos Pappas
Color4:421466
Image4:File:Nikos Pappas in Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (cropped).jpg
Image4 Size:100px
1Data4:12,787 (8.7%)
2Data4:Eliminated
Candidate5:Stefanos Tzoumakas
Color5:16AD59
Image5 Size:100px
1Data5:1,917 (1.3%)
2Data5:Eliminated

A leadership election was held in September 2023 within Syriza after the resignation of leader Alexis Tsipras following the June 2023 legislative election.[1] It was won by Stefanos Kasselakis after two rounds of voting.[2]

Background

Previous leadership election

In January 2022, Alexis Tsipras, then president of SYRIZA - PS, proposed to the party's political council the election of the leader and the central committee directly by its members,[3] which was accepted and voted through despite the disagreement of the internal party opposition group "Umbrella" from the party congress in April with 70% of the votes.[4]

On 15 May elections were held for the presidency of the party, which were open to members and friends of the party, while only those who had been members before 21 March were admitted to vote for the central committee.[5]

Alexis Tsipras was re-elected with 100% of the valid votes and 140,000 new members.[6] A total of 172,000 citizens participated.

2023

After the June 2023 Greek legislative election, Syriza received a record low percentage of 17.83% since the May 2012 Greek legislative election.[7] Tsipras announced his resignation 4 days after the elections on 29 June 2023. He stated that the party needs, "profound renewal and refoundation".[8] Sokratis Famellos was unanimously elected to take his place as president of the parliamentary group, becoming the leader of the official opposition.[9]

All party members of Syriza who were aged 15-years-old and above before 17 September 2023 could vote in the leadership election.[10] The vote was held under the two-round system.

Candidates

Effie Achtsioglou announced her intention to run for presidency on 12 July from the Athens Conservatoire.[11] A day later, Euclid Tsakalotos announced his candidacy.[12] Nikos Pappas announced his candidacy during the central committee’s meeting, on 15 July.[13] Stefanos Tzoumakas, member of the Executive Committee also announced his candidacy during the central committee meeting.[14] In August 2023, Stefanos Kasselakis announced that he would be running in the election.[15]

Opinion polls

Leadership Election voting intention by Metron Analysis for MEGA TV:[16]

Results

Kasselakis was the top vote-getter in the first round of the leadership contest on 17 September 2023 with Effie Achtsioglou in second place.[17]

As no candidate received over 50% of the vote in the first round there was a run-off election between the top two candidates, those being Stefanos Kasselakis and Effie Achtsioglou, on 24 September 2023.

In the second round Kasselakis received 55.98% of the vote and Achtsioglou received 44.02%, giving Kasselakis the victory. Kasselakis spoke of wanting Syriza to emulate the U.S. Democratic Party and move to the centre-left.[2]

Notes and References

  1. News: Smith . Helena . 2023-06-29 . Alexis Tsipras steps down as Syriza leader after Greek election rout . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-07-04 . 0261-3077.
  2. News: Smith . Helena . 25 September 2023 . Stefanos Kasselakis: ex-banker who lit up Greek politics to lead Syriza . The Guardian . 25 September 2023.
  3. Web site: 2022-01-19 . Τσίπρας – Προτείνει ο πρόεδρος και η ΚΕ του ΣΥΡΙΖΑ να εκλέγεται από τα μέλη και όχι από το συνέδριο . 2023-08-02 . in.gr.
  4. Web site: 2022-04-15 . 3ο Συνέδριο ΣΥΡΙΖΑ: Εκνευρισμός για την παρέμβαση Τσακαλώτου – Πέρασε η πρόταση Τσίπρα . 2023-08-02 . tovima.gr.
  5. Web site: 2022-04-07 . ΣΥΡΙΖΑ: 15 Μαΐου οι εσωκομματικές εκλογές – Πώς θα γίνει η διαδικασία . 2023-08-02 . tovima.gr.
  6. Web site: 2022-05-15 . Τσίπρας για εκλογές ΣΥΡΙΖΑ: Ο ΣΥΡΙΖΑ των 172.000 μελών θα είναι πρώτο κόμμα . 2023-08-02 . pagenews.gr.
  7. Web site: 2023-06-25 . Greece's conservatives win election majority to secure second term . 2023-07-06 . Politico . en.
  8. Web site: 2023-06-29 . Greek opposition leader Tsipras resigns as Syriza chief after election defeat . 2023-07-06 . Politico . en.
  9. Web site: 2023-07-03 . Famellos unanimously president of Syriza parliamentary group . 2023-07-06 . Hellasjournal.com . en-US.
  10. News: Kokkinidis . Tasos . 17 September 2023 . The Five Candidates Vowing to Reverse Syriza's Decline in Greece . Greek Reporter . 18 September 2023.
  11. Web site: Έφη Αχτσιόγλου: Στο Ωδείο Αθηνών θα ανακοινώσει αύριο την υποψηφιότητά της για την ηγεσία του Συριζα . 2023-07-11 . www.ieidiseis.gr . el-gr.
  12. Web site: 2023-07-14 . Euclid Tsakalotos announces candidacy for SYRIZA leadership, advocates for an inclusive Left eKathimerini.com . 2023-08-04 . www.ekathimerini.com . English.
  13. Web site: 2023-07-15 . Nikos Pappas announces candidacy for SYRIZA leadership eKathimerini.com . 2023-08-04 . www.ekathimerini.com . English.
  14. Web site: Costu . Safak . 2023-07-15 . SYRIZA Leadership Race Heats Up: Stefanos Tzoumakas Throws Hat into Ring . 2023-08-04 . BNN Breaking . en-US.
  15. Web site: Kasselakis announced he is running for Syriza leadership . 28 August 2023 . Ta Nea . 3 September 2023.
  16. Web site: SYRIZA-PS Leadership Election voting intention by Metron Analysis for @MegaTvOfficial . 2023-09-15 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
  17. Web site: Syriza: Kasselakis, Achtsioglou headed to a runoff . ekathimerini.com . 18 Sep 2023.