Sokrates Famellos has been elected the new President of Syriza, securing a decisive victory in Sunday's party elections.
With all of of the votes counted, Mr. Famellos captured 49.41% of the vote, comfortably surpassing his closest rival, Pavlos Polakis, who garnered 43.51%.
The polls, which were extended by one hour due to high voter turnout, saw an impressive participation rate with approximately 70,152 party members casting their ballots both domestically and abroad. Sources within Syriza headquarters indicate that nearly 11,000 of these voters were new registrations, signaling a potential surge in party membership.
Mr. Famellos' victory marks a significant turning point for Syriza following their defeat in the national elections earlier this year. The election saw four candidates vying for the leadership position: Mr. Famellos, Mr. Polakis, Nikolaos Farantouris, and Apostolos Gletsos.
The party adopted an inclusive approach to voter eligibility, allowing individuals aged 15 and above to participate, including those who registered as members on the day of the election. Voting for overseas members was conducted electronically.
This decisive win for Mr. Famellos sets the stage for a new chapter in Syriza's history and raises questions about the party's future direction under his leadership.