In a dramatic last-ditch effort to stay in the race for SYRIZA’s leadership, Stefanos Kasselakis withdrew a legal notice he had filed against the party's Political Secretariat and Central Committee.
The move follows intense internal backlash and comes just hours before a crucial meeting of the Central Committee, which could shape his political future within the party.
Kasselakis had earlier sought to delay Saturday’s pivotal Central Committee meeting, a request officially put forward by party member Nikos Skorinis. However, the proposal found little support among the party's senior officials, who opted to move ahead with the scheduled meeting. The session is expected to play a key role in determining both the party’s direction and Kasselakis' candidacy for the leadership election.
Skorinis had suggested postponing the meeting to allow more time for discussions among the five leadership candidates, and to give Kasselakis the chance to withdraw his legal action—an effort aimed at preventing what he called a looming party split. “This was a final attempt to diffuse tensions and find common ground,” Skorinis told reporters, adding, “Otherwise, in the current climate, tomorrow’s Central Committee meeting could mark the beginning of the end for SYRIZA as a united entity. I hope I am wrong.”
Though the postponement was supported by prominent figures such as Panos Rigas, Olympia Teligioridou, and Theodora Tzakri, the majority of the Political Secretariat voted against it. They reaffirmed plans to hold the meeting as scheduled, beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Notably, Pavlos Polakis and Youth Representative Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos abstained from voting, while key members Rena Dourou and Maria Kyveli were absent.
The Secretariat also reiterated its previously agreed-upon roadmap for the party congress and leadership election, emphasizing the need for institutional stability and unity within the party. In relation to Kasselakis’ legal notice, they stood firm, deeming it “unacceptable.”
The legal notice, which Kasselakis had filed over the alleged leak of his financial disclosure, had sparked outrage within the party. Senior figures, including Olga Gerovasili, accused him of undermining party processes and disrespecting internal decisions. Gerovasili also raised concerns about Kasselakis’ comments on potentially changing Greece’s political system, warning that such rhetoric could even jeopardize SYRIZA's participation in future national elections. She characterized Kasselakis’ actions as divisive at a time when the party is striving for unity.
Faced with mounting opposition from the Political Secretariat, Kasselakis made the decision to withdraw his legal threat. In a lengthy social media post, he explained his reasoning, writing, “Anger is a poor advisor.” He added that he was retracting the legal notice to ensure that his critics “have no excuse” to target him further.
This latest twist in the SYRIZA leadership race comes as tensions within the party reach a boiling point, with deep divisions over the future direction and identity of Greece’s main opposition party. The outcome of Saturday’s Central Committee meeting is expected to be decisive not only for Kasselakis’ candidacy but also for the broader trajectory of SYRIZA during this critical juncture.
As key party members prepare to attend, others have signaled their absence, underscoring the internal discord. Pano Rigas and Nikos Skorinis have announced they will not attend, while Theodora Tzakri confirmed her presence. Pavlos Polakis will also miss the meeting due to a scheduled event in Crete.
With the future of the party’s leadership and unity hanging in the balance, tomorrow’s Central Committee meeting could well determine whether SYRIZA can emerge intact—or face the threat of a fracturing political future.